After our homes were confiscated and we were exiled, the women in my clan and I raised a million sol

Zhang Liang heard this and shook his head slightly.

"Not enough. You still need to apologize to me in public."

When Chu Xun heard this, his eyes widened instantly and anger almost burst out of his eyes.

He was about to open his mouth to scold, but suddenly his mind recalled Zhang Liang's previous shocking poem, and he couldn't help but hesitate.

Reason told him that Zhang Liang's talent was difficult to replicate, and it would be extremely difficult for him to improvise a masterpiece of the same level.

Chu Xun swallowed the harsh words that were about to come out of his mouth and agreed with gritted teeth: "Okay! I promise you. But if you lose, not only must you kowtow to me and admit your mistake, you must also agree to one condition of mine."

After saying that, Chu Xun's gaze involuntarily drifted towards Qin Youlan and others not far away, and a hint of lust that was difficult to conceal flashed in his eyes.

This unusual behavior immediately attracted the attention of Qin Youlan and others.

They were already worried about Zhang Liang, and now feeling the malicious gaze, they all turned their heads to look, and happened to meet Chu Xun's eyes.

At that moment, an uneasy atmosphere seemed to condense in the air. Qin Youlan and others' expressions changed slightly, and alarm bells rang in their hearts.

Zhao Ruoruo quietly approached Qin Youlan and said in a low voice, "It seems that guy's target is indeed us."

There was a hint of worry in her tone, but her eyes glanced at Chu Xun not far away.

Qin Youlan snorted coldly, her tone full of disdain: "He's just a playboy! I believe uncle won't let us down."

Hearing this, Zhao Ruoruo nodded slightly, and the worry in her heart eased a little.

At this moment, Zhang Liang's voice rang out clearly, breaking the whispers around him: "Okay! I promise you!"

After saying this, Zhang Liang turned to He Tianshun and bowed respectfully, "Mr. He, please be the referee of this competition."

He Tianshun nodded slightly.

Then, he turned his gaze to Chu Xun and asked, "Mr. Chu, what do you think?"

Seeing this, Chu Xun agreed without hesitation. After all, he didn't trust anyone now. He Tianshun was famous for his fairness, so he had to be the referee.

Seeing that both sides had no objections, He Tianshun slowly announced the rules of the competition: "This competition consists of three questions. The first question will be inspired by the summer lotus in the pond. You have one moment to write a poem to showcase your talent."

As soon as he finished speaking, He Tianshun put his hands behind his back, his gaze leisurely cast towards the colorful flowers in the distance, and pondered for a moment, as if he was considering how to transform this midsummer scenery into a poetic atmosphere.

Then he turned and said to Zhang Liang and the others, "It's summer's heat now, and the lotus flowers are in full bloom, just the right time. You two should use this scene as a theme and showcase your talents. Who would like to go first?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Xun was secretly delighted, and a smug smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

It turned out that he had been prepared for this. He had written an excellent poem about lotus in the past, which, after much refinement, was almost perfect.

Thinking of this, he took a step forward confidently and said aloud, "I have been inspired by something and have a poem in mind. I might as well present it to you, just as a starting point for discussion."

When these words were spoken, everyone was shocked. They whispered to each other and secretly admired his quick wit.

When Chu Xun saw the surprised looks from all around him, the pride in his heart burned like a prairie fire, growing stronger and stronger.

He unfolded his folding fan, his gesture full of ostentation, and then walked slowly through the hall with feigned elegance, reciting: "The moon reflects on the clear waves, its shadow pitying itself; the wind shakes the green canopy, making it dance gracefully. Roots coiled in the mud conceal dreams, while buds blossom among the flowers, revealing elegant poems. Untainted by dust, my heart is like water, my heart alone is pure and celestial. Why ask about the myriad worldly affairs? I only wish to share this fate for the rest of my life."

As he finished his poem, the students around him nodded, and some whispered to each other, obviously moved by the artistic conception of the poem.

Chu Xun's men took the opportunity to praise loudly: "Good poem! Good poem! Master Chu is truly a man of great literary talent and talent!"

Such praise made Chu Xun's face even more proud. He looked at Zhang Liang provocatively, his eyes full of the arrogance and disdain of a winner.

Chu Xun then came to Zhang Liang and stared at him with sharp eyes, as if trying to see through his thoughts.

He leaned forward slightly and asked in a slightly provocative tone, "How is it, Prince Wang, do you think my poem is well written?"

Hearing his words, Zhang Liang smiled slightly, with a hint of indifference and composure in that smile.

He slowly raised his head, met Chu Xun's gaze, and said softly, "This poem is much better than the one you just wrote, but it's still average."

The smile on Chu Xun's face froze in an instant, as if it were frozen.

However, he quickly forced a smile, which was a little forced but still bright.

He said to Zhang Liang, "If that's the case, then Prince Wang, let's see what good poetry is."

After hearing his words, Zhang Liang smiled, with a hint of confidence in his smile.

He took a deep breath, as if brewing something. After a moment, he slowly opened his mouth and recited his poem.

"After all, the scenery of West Lake in June is different from that of other seasons. The lotus leaves stretch to the sky and are infinitely green, while the lotus flowers reflect the sun and are a unique red."

The moment Zhang Liang's poem was read aloud, the entire hall seemed to be enveloped by a shocking force.

Everyone was either sitting or standing, but at this moment they all widened their eyes, with expressions of disbelief written all over their faces.

There was an indescribable surprise and admiration in the air, and it seemed that everyone was deeply touched by the poem.

Referee He Tianshun was extremely excited. He said in a trembling voice, "Crush! This is a complete crush!"

His words were full of recognition and admiration for Zhang Liang's talent.

He Tianshun continued his analysis, "Whether in terms of the height of its intention, the depth of its emotions, or the artistry of its language, this poem surpasses Mr. Chu's works in all aspects."

After hearing He Tianshun's evaluation, Yang Bao also agreed.

"That's right," one of the friends said excitedly, "This is a complete and utter crush! Prince Wang's poem is not only ingeniously conceived, but the sincere emotion expressed between the lines is truly moving. It's truly wonderful!"

When they looked at Chu Xun, the tall figure in the center of the hall, their eyes were full of admiration.

However, amidst all the praise, Chu Xun seemed particularly uncomfortable.

His expression changed, he was stunned for a few seconds, and then he showed an expression of disbelief and even fear.

"This...how is this possible?"

He murmured softly, his tone filled with obvious anxiety and unwillingness.

"My poem was clearly carefully prepared, so how could it lose to his impromptu creation?"

Thinking of this, Chu Xun's eyes gradually turned red, obviously unable to accept such a result.

For him, who has always been full of confidence, this failure is undoubtedly a heavy blow.

Chu Xun's face gradually became gloomy as He Tianshun spoke, and his eyes were full of disbelief and anger.

He originally thought that his carefully prepared poem would stand out in this assessment, but he did not expect to be easily surpassed by Zhang Liang.

This gap made him feel extremely frustrated, as if all his efforts and talents had been ruthlessly trampled upon.

He turned to look at Zhang Liang, expecting to see him looking smug, but to his surprise, Zhang Liang's expression was very indifferent, as if he didn't care about the victory at all.

This indifferent attitude made Chu Xun even more angry. He felt that this was the biggest insult to himself.

When he thought that the work he had prepared with great effort was not as good as someone else's casual creation, his self-esteem suffered an unprecedented blow and he felt as embarrassed as if he had been slapped in the face in public.

He Tianshun's assessment made the situation even worse: "Comparing the two, the difference is like heaven and earth."

These words pierced the softest part of Chu Xun's heart like a sharp sword, making him feel ashamed.

The word "mud" made him feel that all his efforts were meaningless, and he even began to doubt his own abilities and value.

Chu Xun, who was furious, locked his eyes on Zhang Liang, his eyes full of hostility, as if the other party was the root cause of all these misfortunes.

However, in the face of such hostile gazes, Zhang Liang appeared unusually calm, even indifferent.

He ignored the resentment from Chu Xun and politely said to He Tianshun, "Let's start the next game."