Chapter 100: Another Slap in the Face

Xu Jing often targeted Zhou Zhi, which made Zhou Zhi somewhat annoyed. He wondered silently, “Xu Jing, have I offended you? You forced me to memorize that couplet, and you write such beautiful calligraphy. Does that mean I, Zhou Zhi, cannot also produce fine writing? You, a distinguished scholar, quarrel with someone like me—just a commoner, a trivial figure from the countryside. Aren’t you lowering yourself too much?”

It wasn’t just Zhou Zhi; even Lü Xingchuan, Wu Wending, and others felt Xu Jing’s behavior was excessive. They wanted to advise him, but Xu Jing wore a smile as if he were merely making casual remarks, indifferent to their disapproval. So the others quietly shook their heads and said nothing.

Zhou Zhi humbly said, “I’ve thought of a couplet myself.”

His tone was light and casual, but Xu Jing nearly fainted upon hearing it.

What’s going on today? My couplet is an absolute masterpiece from Jiangyin. Gu Dingchen and Fan Jin are scholars, so it’s understandable if they matched it, but you, Zhou Zhi, a mere commoner who has only studied for three months, can also come up with a matching couplet—and on top of that, a third one based on the two they already produced! This... is outrageous! How am I, Xu Jing, supposed to save face now?

He felt a surge of anxiety but forced a smile and said, “Since you’ve matched it, Brother Zhou Zhi, why don’t you share it with everyone?”

Zhou Zhi then recited, “Frost assaults the sturdy pines; each trunk is like the iron wood of the khan.”

“Brilliant! Truly brilliant!” Fan Jin and Wu Wending immediately applauded.

Indeed, if Gu Dingchen and Fan Jin’s lower couplet was admirable, Zhou Zhi’s was even more exquisite. Xu Jing’s upper couplet captured the tranquil beauty of moonlight filtering through a window screen, a delicate moment seen through a literati’s eyes.

Zhou Zhi’s lower couplet, however, viewed the scene from a military strategist’s perspective: a vast panorama of frost assaulting the earth, with resilient pines standing firm across the mountains and valleys.

The two lines echoed each other perfectly—a match made in heaven.

Zhou Zhi’s words were stunning. Xu Jing stood dumbfounded for a long while, feeling as though he had been slapped hard in the face. His radiant composure vanished, and his spirit wilted.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Zhi smiled and said, “Brother Zhi, I also have an opening line. I wonder if anyone here can come up with a matching couplet?”

“Please, let’s hear it!” Xu Jing’s spirit was stirred, eager to regain some dignity.

He considered himself an expert at matching couplets; if he could match Zhou Zhi’s line, it would restore some of his pride.

Zhou Zhi casually recited, “Lonely cold window, guarding solitude in vain.”

Xu Jing pondered briefly and said, “This is a fine couplet!”

Indeed, from the perspective of radicals, all seven characters share the ‘treasure cover’ radical, so the matching lower couplet must also feature the same radical and carry meaningful content.

Xu Jing increasingly felt Zhou Zhi was no ordinary man. Though Zhou Zhi was still a commoner, among those present, Xu Jing believed Zhou Zhi to be the most learned and promising.

Though Zhou Zhi was not yet familiar with the rigid exam-style writing, with his intelligence and photographic memory, mastering it would be easy.

I underestimated him at first, Xu Jing thought with a sigh.

If he could match Zhou Zhi’s couplet, he might salvage some honor. Xu Jing focused intently.

Gu Dingchen had already furrowed his brows in deep thought; the others wore similar expressions, except Fan Jin, who smiled with admiration. He greatly respected Zhou Zhi—the young brother was not only talented but also wise and tactful. With such cleverness, Xu Jing was no match for him.

Fan Jin thought that since Zhou Zhi had come up with such an opening line, he was confident Xu Jing could not match it. So Fan Jin didn’t even bother trying; he knew it was pointless given his own knowledge.

Seven characters all sharing the same radical—where would one find seven such characters with meaningful content?

Sure enough, after the time it took for an incense stick to burn, no one spoke.

In truth, Zhou Zhi had only intended to challenge everyone’s minds, not truly to embarrass them. Especially Xu Jing, who, despite repeatedly provoking him, was a friend of Lü Xingchuan from afar, so Zhou Zhi wanted to preserve some face for him.

Had Zhou Zhi wished to truly embarrass everyone and make Xu Jing lose face, he would have presented the historical couplet “Smoke locks the pond, willows hang low.”

Though that couplet has some responses online today, no one in the Ming era could match it.

Though Xu Jing was a master and Gu Dingchen quick-witted, after another incense stick’s time, their faces flushed red with effort, yet no one answered.

Zhou Zhi laughed and said, “Everyone, no need to respond! Actually, I heard this couplet from someone else. Back in the day, Huang Guan pondered it for days without solution. So this couplet remains unmatched, an absolute indeed!”

Naturally, he was speaking nonsense.

Who was Huang Guan? The first person in Ming history to pass the highest three imperial exams consecutively. Of course, he was later disgraced by the Yongle Emperor, so only Shang Lu remains recognized as a triple champion in Ming records. Whether Huang Guan ever dealt with such a couplet was unknown, but Zhou Zhi’s words saved everyone some face.

Lü Xingchuan chuckled, “Haha! Since even the triple champion Huang couldn’t answer it, we needn’t trouble ourselves. Brother Zhou Zhi, not to criticize, but it’s not quite right to challenge everyone with such a couplet.”

Zhou Zhi smiled, “I’ve pondered on this for years without result. Actually, I was hoping the brothers here might help me think it through!”

His words immediately eased the awkward atmosphere. Zhou Zhi was not trying to embarrass anyone but genuinely sought their advice. Although no one could answer, no one lost face.

Only Xu Jing’s face remained flushed, clearly displeased, yet he still strained his mind to think of a response.

Fan Jin secretly gave Zhou Zhi a thumbs-up. Impressive—the young brother was not only quick-witted but also skilled in social graces.

Xu Jing thought a while longer but eventually gave up. He memorized the line “Lonely cold window, guarding solitude in vain” to challenge the refined literati he knew back home.

Especially Tang Bohu, who had been arrogant lately, always thinking no one could match his couplets and only he could trouble others, never the reverse.

Winter days were short; night fell swiftly.

Everyone gathered again for dinner, the atmosphere lively once more. Zhou Zhi grew closer to Gu Dingchen and Wu Wending but exchanged only polite formalities with Xu Jing. Zhou Zhi clearly sensed Xu Jing still held a grudge against him.

Though Zhou Zhi wished not to offend Xu Jing, circumstances were beyond his control.

The whole night passed with animated discussion, mostly with everyone seeking Xu Jing’s guidance. Xu Jing spoke confidently, somewhat boastful, explaining many difficulties in composing eight-legged essays.

All good things must come to an end. Xu Jing, Wu Wending, and Gu Dingchen had come north primarily to visit Lü Xingchuan’s cousin and to see Lü Xingchuan himself. With the year’s end approaching, they dared not delay. Early the next morning, the three prepared to depart.

Lü Xingchuan, Wei Haogu, Fan Jin, and Zhou Zhi escorted them at the main gate, promising to keep in touch by letter. Then, the travelers boarded their carriage and set off.

As the carriage gradually disappeared down the road, the four remained at the gate, gazing after them for a long time before returning inside.

What the four did not see was a carriage parked not far away along a small path. The curtains were slightly drawn aside, revealing two figures whose cold eyes watched them with envy, jealousy, and, above all, hatred.