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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.]
O R A N G E S T A R
[J Jean] [K.Rom] [Manon] [Smurfinbatik] [Tori D.]
Y E L L O W S T A R
[Fav Akira] [Leticia P.] [Maria P.] [Mel Melz] [Nicole] [Passerby]
G O L D S T A R
[Cindy] [Nanashi D. Y.] [Reece P.]
R A I N B O W S T A R
[Amanda] [Book W.] [Britnae M] [Caroline] [Christigale M.] [DetectiveGeek421] [Haruka N.]
[Hong] [Kiiayame] [kuroneko_chan] [Lily J.] [Liznel M.] [Michelle K.] [onepiece]
[Quae] [Ray] [Victoria]
The Zhuangyuan’s flower hairpin tradition had always existed in the State of Zhao. At first, only the Zhuangyuan had the flower hairpin, then it gradually evolved into three flower hairpins of the top three Jinshi. These flower hairpins were given as imperial gifts, which had a very special significance. To have the flower hairpin of the top three Jinshi was a matter to be proud of for every young lady of the State of Zhao.
It was true that the three flower hairpins couldn’t be given to men.
But generally, they were not casually given to women either. First, they were an imperial gift, so naturally people cherished them very much. Second, they were also worried that their favor would offend someone.
Such a thing had happened in the previous dynasty—— a Zhuangyuan gave his flower hairpin to a famous prostitute of a brothel, which angered the daughter of an influential family who was secretly in love with him. The daughter's father was a powerful official of the court, so the result could be imagined. The Zhuangyuan’s career was not smooth for many years, and while the Bangyan and Tanhua of the same batch both joined the cabinet, only he was sent out to a small county as a county magistrate.
Of course, this was an isolated incident.
In any case, flower hairpins were extremely hard to come by.
There were two methods to get a flower hairpin. One was that the top three Jinshi were willing to give it away, and the other was to challenge them to a match. If you win, you could get the other party’s flower hairpin as a prize.
In this way, the Crown Princess previously won two flower hairpins from the hands of two Jinshi, namely the Bangyan and Tanhua, which once became a popular story in the State of Zhao.
If no one challenged Xiao Liulang, then Xiao Liulang could give the flower hairpin to anyone he wanted, but if someone challenged him, he must accept the challenge and win against the other party first before he could give the flower hairpin to anyone he wanted.
If he didn’t want to take the challenge, that was possible, but then, he also couldn’t give away the flower hairpin to anyone. This was the rule.
Seeing that he took the initiative to take out the flower hairpin, it seemed that he was going to give it away voluntarily.
This immediately made others green with envy.
From the second floor of a teahouse next to where Gu Jiao was, a window suddenly opened, and a girl in purple with a veil covering her face stood by the window.
Looking at her attire, she was either from a wealthy family or influential family. She also had a good temperament and there were several servant girls around her. She should be a daughter of a high-ranking official.
She didn't even look at Gu Jiao next door, but raised her chin and eyebrows as her gaze rested on the handsome as a jade new Zhuangyuan. She said, "This humble miss wants to consult the Zhuangyuan about antithetical couplet. I wonder if Zhuangyuan can do me a favor?"
This meant to challenge the Zhuangyuan.
Every year, there would be young ladies who challenged the top three Jinshi during the Zhuangyuan parade. However, not many of them actually take up the challenge, and even fewer people lose after accepting the challenge. So far, only the Crown Princess had successfully won two flower hairpins.
This girl was really bold. What was her identity?
They couldn’t help but look up at the girl in purple.
As if the girl in purple didn't mind being watched, she smiled and said arrogantly and naively, "What's the matter? Is the new Zhuangyuan afraid that she can't match this humble miss’ antithetical phrase? After all, if you are wrong, you can't send your flower hairpin."
Everyone understood that because this girl couldn’t get it herself, she didn’t want others to get it either.
Good, although it sounded abominable, they were a little delighted. That's right, Zhuangyuan, you can only keep your flower hairpin for yourself, you can’t give it to another woman!
Xiao Liulang nodded slightly at Gu Jiao, then looked at the young lady from afar, his eyes regained their cold expression, "May young miss kindly impart her wisdom."
The girl in purple proudly said, "From the river-gazing tower, gazing at the river flow;
From the river-gazing tower, gazing at the stream below; The river-gazing tower has been here for ages, but the great river’s flowing never ceases.”
Everyone was surprised. This young miss’ literary talent was also something else!
However, without giving it much thought, Xiao Liulang responded lightly, "The moon-reflecting well, reflecting the moon’s reflection; the moon-reflecting well, center is the moon’s depiction; ten thousand years, the moon-reflecting well stood, ten thousand years, lasts the reflection of the moon."
The crowd clapped their hands and applauded, "Very good!"
He was indeed the new Zhuangyuan. This was such a great antithetical couplet!
The girl in purple felt choked. She didn't expect the other party to come up with an answer so quickly. She was not convinced and threw another phrase, "Fog blocks the summits of mountains and mountains shield the clouds!"
Xiao Liulang: "The sky connects to the water and the water edge connects to the sky."
The girl in purple: "The moonlight shines on the window screen, the brilliance from every opening brightens up the pavilion."
Xiao Liulang: "Snow flies to the plum mountain ridge, everywhere is the fragrance of the white plum of the mountain."
The girl in purple scratched her head anxiously, and she wanted to throw another one. Just then, Xiao Liulang said blandly, "Young miss has used up all her chances."
Since she was the first person to challenge, she could ask three questions. As for the following challengers, they could only ask one question, which was also the rule.
She was furious and turned to a young Taoist nun in a Taoist robe in the room and said, "Sister! You do it!"
The young Taoist nun took a sip of tea and said leisurely, "Stop making a fool of yourself, just go back to your seat. If the new Zhuangyuan can be stumped by a few couplets, he won't be worthy of being the Zhuangyuan."
"But..." The girl in purple stamped her feet and sat back in her chair with a cold harrumphed.
With the girl in purple taking the lead, several other brave young ladies also challenged the new Zhuangyuan, and they all lost without exception.
Then, there came a ruthless challenger. She neither challenged him in antithetical couplet or poetry, but asked Xiao Liulang to recite a passage from ‘The Commentary of Zuo’ backwards.
The young lady was holding the book she used to challenge Xiao Liulang. ‘The Commentary of Zuo’ had more than 90,000 words. What level of proficiency did one need to have in order to memorize it by heart, and he even had to recite it backwards?
This was just too cruel!
Originally, people were still gloating, but at the moment, they couldn’t help but sympathize with the new Zhuangyuan.
The official of the Ministry of Rites broke out in a cold sweat. He noted inwardly, rules must be set up clearly regarding these challenges, for example, one can only challenge the person to couplets or poems, and can't deviate from the subject! This is simply sincerely wanting to shame others, isn’t it?
Only those who had studied understood how difficult this challenge was, but the rest of people knew nothing about that. The people would only think, aren't you the new Zhuangyuan? How can you not even recite a book?
The young lady, who stood on the second floor of a building, said with a smile, "Are you not able to answer? In that case, Zhuangyuan, your flower hairpin is mine!"
At that moment, Xiao Liulang spoke with ease, "Baiyu like, Xi to Xu remove to Sheng this employed Chu of viscount the, winter in.” (In winter, the viscount of Chu employed this Sheng to remove Xu to Xi, like Baiyu.)
The young miss was shocked. She kept staring at the book in her hand. He, he, he… He didn't recite a single word wrong!
"Thank you for letting me win." Xiao Liulang looked away politely and distantly.
"Is there anything else?"
He asked.
The crowd was silent, completely shocked by his backward recitation of a passage from ‘The Commentary of Zuo’. At this moment, no one dared to come forward to make a fool of themselves.
Xiao Liulang's eyes fell on Gu Jiao's face, and the way he looked at her evoked others’ jealousy again, "Young miss, please give me a question."
[T/N: About the antithetical couplet, there are rules that must be adhered to while making it. You can look it up here. I didn’t try to stick to these rules while translating them into English because I already know my brain cells aren’t enough for that XD. Apart from “Fog blocks the summits of mountains and mountains shield the clouds!" and the passage from ‘The Commentary of Zuo’, which I was able to somehow find an english translation after much searching, the rest were more or less just translated literally. ]
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