Chapter 81 Ji Qingqing’s Poetry Duel—Humbled!

Chapter 81: Ji Qingqing Challenges Her to a Poetry Duel, Gets Slapped in the Face!

"Alright, everyone's here. Let's begin."

With the Empress's command, a young eunuch in the center began beating a drum. The rhythmic thumping echoed through the crowd as the noble ladies passed the rose swiftly from one hand to another.

When the drumming stopped, the first flower landed in front of Luo Sinian. He frowned slightly, stood up, and said respectfully, "Father and Mother, I have no particular talent. Let me perform a sword dance to entertain everyone."

With that, Luo Sinian took the sword Su Mu handed him and began dancing in the plum grove. He gripped the longsword, moving with agility. With each swing, leaves rained down from the trees. Sometimes he moved light as a swallow, other times fast as lightning. Sword flowers flew out like ribbons, dotting the air.

Ji Yuntang watched with great interest. She had to admit, Luo Sinian's sword dance was really beautiful, without any hesitation or wasted movement.

Little did she know, Luo Sinian's martial arts were all taught by Luo Junhe.

Unsurprisingly, this performance won over many young ladies. A lot of girls blushed as they watched Luo Sinian.

Ji Yuntang clicked her tongue. It seemed Luo Sinian's romantic luck was about to come?

But the man didn't even look at those girls, just focused on handing the sword back to Su Mu.

"Father and Mother, I've made a humble showing."

The Jingyang Emperor praised him without holding back, "Not bad. Your martial arts have improved quickly. Keep practicing hard and don't slack off."

"Yes, Father."

Ji Yuntang shook her head. Tsk, what a straight-up guy.

Only Luo Junhe's words would Luo Sinian listen to.

The drum-passing game continued. When the drumming stopped again, the flower landed in front of Ji Qingqing.

Ji Qingqing first shot a shy, longing glance at Luo Jingshen, then curtsied to the two people seated above.

"Your Majesty, Empress, I've been influenced by my third brother and recently gotten into composing poetry. I humbly ask Your Majesty and the Empress to let me pick someone to duel in poetry with me."

"Approved!" The Jingyang Emperor waved his hand in approval.

Ji Qingqing's gaze swept over Luo Jingshen, then the crowd, and finally landed on Ji Yuntang.

"I wonder if my elder sister would be willing to go head-to-head with me?"

"Sister won first place in the medical competition—a skill I really admire. I'd like to learn from you too."

Ji Yuntang initially wanted to say no, but after catching the glance Ji Qingqing and Luo Jingshen exchanged, she suddenly agreed without hesitation.

"Alright, but a competition without stakes isn't fun. If I win, I'll teach you martial arts. If I lose, I'll drink three cups of Xinglin Spring as a penalty—how about that?"

Ji Qingqing sneered to herself. She didn't take Ji Yuntang's words seriously.

There was no way she'd lose.

Xinglin Spring was a strong liquor meant for men; people with low tolerance would get drunk after one cup.

Since this bitch wanted to embarrass herself, she'd happily oblige!

Ji Qingqing turned and said sweetly, "Empress, please pick a theme for us."

"Since we're in a plum grove, let's duel over plum blossom poems."

Ji Qingqing was full of confidence. After thinking for a moment, she said, "A few plum blossoms signal spring across the land. Please, elder sister, give the second line."

Ji Yuntang: "..."

She thought Ji Qingqing was going to write a poem, but it turned out to be couplets?

Still, for a time traveler like her, what was so hard?

"Ice melts on the northern shore, birds sing among flowers."

Ji Qingqing was a little startled, looking at Ji Yuntang in surprise. She could actually answer that?

But when she saw Luo Qingge and Ji Yuntang exchanging glances, she naturally assumed Luo Qingge had helped her cheat.

Otherwise, how could Ji Yuntang, who couldn't even read, match her poem?

"Sister, I have another line about plum blossoms. Could you match this one too?"

Ji Qingqing refused to give up. She thought her first line was too short, giving Ji Yuntang a chance to answer.

This time, she'd make it longer, and Ji Yuntang wouldn't be so lucky.

Surely Luo Qingge couldn't help her every time?

Ji Yuntang didn't back down. Someone offering to be slapped in the face—why not take it?

"Alright, then I'll teach you martial arts twice later."

Ji Qingqing rolled her eyes inwardly and said, "Snow in red plums, snow reflects red plums, plums reflect snow."

She finished and looked at Ji Yuntang challengingly, thinking she'd definitely fail this time.

But Ji Yuntang answered without hesitation.

"Wind in green bamboo, wind rustles green bamboo, bamboo rustles wind."

Ji Qingqing: "!!!"

This time, she had kept her eyes on Ji Yuntang without blinking, afraid Luo Qingge might help her cheat again.

Yet she answered on her own, and it rhymed perfectly.

How was this possible?

Ji Yuntang ignored Ji Qingqing's shocked expression. She smiled and looked at the crowd.

"How do you all think my two lines compare? Do you think I won or lost?"

The next second, Luo Qingge immediately chimed in, "Of course you won! Though I'm not well-versed, I know that Second Miss Ji's lines weren't poems but couplets about plum blossoms. Yet Third Sister-in-law answered fluently—how is that not a win?"

Luo Qianxue retorted, "Since you admit Miss Ji spoke of plum blossoms, Princess Ye's two lines weren't about plum blossoms at all. She's off-topic. How can that count as her win?"

"In my view, this round should go to Miss Ji."

Luo Qingge and Luo Qianxue were both princesses, but their surface relationship was far from harmonious, with countless covert struggles between them.

As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Since Luo Qingge had already taken Ji Yuntang's side, she naturally had to stand by Ji Qingqing and speak up for her.

The scene instantly became tense and confrontational, the atmosphere growing increasingly hostile, the air thick with tension.

At the critical moment, Xie Liuzheng stepped forward once again. With a slight curl of his lips, his white robes fluttering, and his folding fan snapping open, he now looked every bit the refined scholar.

"The Tenth Princess is wrong. Second Miss Ji asked Princess Ye to match her poem, but what she composed herself wasn't even a poem. The one who set the question went off-topic—how could the respondent possibly answer correctly?"

"Moreover, from a couplet standpoint, Princess Ye's response was flawless."

Luo Qianxue looked at the young man's carefree and bold face, her cheeks flushing slightly. Somewhat anxiously, she said, "Brother Zheng, it's obvious Second Miss Ji won. Why are you defending Princess Ye?"

Xie Liuzheng: "!!!"

Luo Qianxue's address of "Brother Zheng" nearly scared Xie Liuzheng half to death. He quickly closed his fan and jumped back a safe distance.

"I urge the Tenth Princess to choose her words carefully. I'm not your brother—your brothers are all seated right here!"

Luo Qianxue: "..."

------------