The emperor is biased and wants to kill me, but you chickened out when the army is at the city gates

The Great Qi Empire has always valued literature over military affairs, so the ministers in the court are most skilled in poetry and prose.

Following the example set by their superiors, the scholars of Daqi also enjoyed composing poems and couplets, and there were countless poetry gatherings in Daqi every year.

As a result, some scholars, in order to cater to the examiners' preferences, devoted themselves solely to the study of poetry. Even if they failed to obtain official rank in the end, as long as they could compose one or two good poems, they could still gain a place among the literati.

"Since the scholars of Daqi love composing poems and couplets so much, I will give them a few couplets that will make them wish they could fly to my Beining City immediately."

Qin Xuan smiled.

Zhuge Xuan was dumbfounded!

What kind of couplets could make scholars all over the world flock to them?

He had followed Qin Xuan for many years, but had never seen Qin Xuan compose poetry, which made him somewhat worried.

Qin Xuan knew that Zhuge Xuan was likely suspicious, so he didn't explain further. Instead, he took out pen and ink and began to write:

"Looking at the river from Wangjiang Tower, looking at the river, looking at the river from Wangjiang Tower, the tower is eternal, the river is eternal."

As Zhuge Xuan read it aloud, he couldn't help but read it aloud.

After reading it aloud, he suddenly woke up and fell into deep thought, his brows furrowing more and more tightly.

But Qin Xuan didn't wait for him and picked up his pen again:

"Smoke locks the willows in the pond."

Upon seeing these five words, Zhuge Xuan's heart trembled once again.

His eyes widened in shock, scanning the five words repeatedly before he finally gasped.

"Your Highness, are these two couplets of yours... absolutely perfect?"

The term "absolute" refers to a couplet that cannot be matched with a matching second line.

"It's pretty much an absolute answer; I doubt any scholar in the world could come up with a matching one."

Although some people in later generations have come up with matching couplets for these two couplets, it was all hundreds of years later. Qin Xuan's statement that they are absolutely correct is reasonable.

Zhuge Xuan's expression was contorted at this point, and he kept repeating the two couplets under his breath.

"Smoke locks the willows by the pond, this couplet is even more unsolvable than the last one. The radicals of these five characters correspond to the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, and the artistic conception is extraordinary. If a matching line is to be made, the font format must be the same, and it must also point out the characteristics of the five elements. How did Your Highness come up with such a couplet?"

Zhuge Xuan was already having a headache from thinking so much, and asked in utter frustration.

"Strategist, don't worry. If you want to know the second line, I'll tell you."

Qin Xuan didn't present this couplet to drive Zhuge Xuan mad.

"Your Highness, you must not! I must find the matching lines for these two couplets myself."

Zhuge Xuan quickly refused, a sentiment that every scholar would share.

Seeing this, Qin Xuan didn't offer any further advice, but simply reminded him:

"Tomorrow you shall hang these two couplets at the city gate and at the same time announce that Beining City intends to challenge all scholars in the world, and anyone who can provide a matching couplet will be rewarded with 100,000 taels of silver for three months."

"If no one can match the couplet after three months, the owner of the couplet will announce the second line and present a new couplet in order to compete again."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Xuan was completely stunned. Did the prince really have such an unparalleled idea in his mind?

Just how much talent does our prince still have hidden?

First, there was his incredible sketching technique, and now there is this unparalleled masterpiece. If he were to study, would there be any other scholar in the world who would have the opportunity to make a name for himself?

"Strategist? Strategist?"

Seeing that Zhuge Xuan did not answer, Qin Xuan couldn't help but urge him on.

Zhuge Xuan suddenly awoke, a hint of shame on his face: "Your Highness, I was so engrossed in these two couplets that I couldn't extricate myself. Please forgive me."

"Comparing couplets is ultimately a minor skill; you don't need to take it to heart. What scholars should study most is strategy and governance. Such entertainment is dispensable."

Qin Xuan spoke casually, but Zhuge Xuan felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face.

Your Highness, you are a military general, yet you casually composed such an unparalleled couplet, and then told me, a scholar, that composing couplets is just a pastime. Where do you expect me, a scholar, to put my face?

No, I can't be the only one to enjoy such an embarrassing good thing.

I must first go to Qiu Xingzhi and let him experience this feeling too.

Thinking of this, Zhuge Xuan quickly took his leave and then hurriedly went to find Qiu Xingzhi.

Coincidentally, Cui Yu was also present at that moment. Following the principle that whether he tricked one or two people, it was still a trick, Zhuge Xuan unhesitatingly threw these two eternally powerful figures out, then said with a sense of relief:

"This is a couplet that the prince just composed to attract scholars from all over the country. I happened to write it down, so I specially shared it with you two for your appreciation."

"Smoke shrouds by the pond and willows?"

Qiu Xingzhi's eyes suddenly widened, like copper bells, and his emotions immediately became excited.

"Looking at the river from Wangjiang Tower, looking at the river, looking at the river from Wangjiang Tower, the tower is eternal, the river is eternal."

Cui Yu muttered to himself, his expression first showing joy, then turning ferocious, and finally he simply clutched his head, as if he had gone mad.

Seeing the expressions on the faces of the two scholars, Zhuge Xuan left satisfied.

The next day, Zhuge Xuan ordered the two timeless masterpieces to be hung on the north and south city walls.

At the same time, he also posted a notice in the city to convey Qin Xuan's message.

In an instant, these two timeless masterpieces were like boulders thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating towering waves.

The local scholars in Beining City became immediately enthusiastic, especially when they saw the words "a reward of 100,000 taels of silver." They were all like chickens injected with chicken blood, and began to rack their brains.

But how easy is it to come up with a perfect match for such an eternal question?

At first, a large number of scholars were eager to try their hand at this, but gradually they all gave up. Later, many of them became even more dispirited, constantly slapping their foreheads, wondering how to respond to the second line of the couplet.

At the same time, these two couplets are spreading rapidly.

Beining City was full of merchants, and people would naturally spread the news of these two couplets as they went about their business.

In just two days, the nearby Jurchen cities of Daman, Daqitianshan, Shuanglin, and Danxia all knew that Beining City had produced two masterpieces that would last for ages, and the reward money was astonishing.

"Smoke shrouds the pond and willows, this is an absolute couplet of the Five Elements, how could there possibly be a second line?"

"Bah! If you can't come up with a matching line, don't spout nonsense. Every first line of a couplet has a second line."

"Ah... I've been composing poems and couplets for decades, yet I can't think of a single line to come up with..."

"..."

Countless scholars went mad at this moment, and were also extremely angry.

How could such an unparalleled masterpiece have emerged from Beining City, a city rife with evil? How should those scholars who previously mocked Beining City now put themselves in their place?

"If no one can come up with a matching couplet after three months, Beining City will create a new couplet, until someone can match it?"

In the Imperial Academy of Daqi, a student angrily slammed his fist on the table: "This kind of behavior is clearly because they know we can't come up with the matching couplet, so they dare to be so arrogant."

"Beining City is utterly arrogant; this is a provocation against all scholars in the world!"

"No, we absolutely cannot let Beining City win. The Grand Master will surely be able to match these two couplets."

"Yes, let's go find the Grand Master. We must not let Beining City be so arrogant."

"..."

A group of students from the Imperial Academy, full of enthusiasm, went to find the newly appointed Chancellor, Pan Ruoan.

Meanwhile, Bai Mufeng, a close disciple of Confucius in Lucheng, also learned of the two couplets and immediately fell into deep thought.