"Hehehe!" As Ye Yiming matched the final couplet, the last scholar who had posed the challenge immediately burst into laughter. His gaze toward Ye Yiming now held a hint of admiration.

"The young lord's talent is indeed extraordinary. I am truly convinced!"

Hearing the scholar's words, Ye Yiming was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected this scholar to be similar to Scholar Zhou, not overly pedantic. He quickly responded, "Not at all, sir. You flatter me."

Ye Yiming's polite response took the scholar by surprise, causing him to pause momentarily before smiling slightly and stepping aside without further comment.

In truth, many of these civil officials had a bias against Ye Yiming from the beginning. Scholar Zheng, in particular, had harbored dislike for him from the start, his words and actions filled with disdain and contempt for Ye Yiming.

Ye Yiming, however, was someone who would respond in kind: a smile for a smile, and retaliation for an insult. He believed in reciprocation—returning respect for respect and retaliation for oppression. He did not see himself as a gentleman, thinking that those who aimed to be gentlemen often met bad ends. This was Ye Yiming's honest belief, and he had no interest in being a refined gentleman.

As a result, the verbal conflicts only intensified the friction between Ye Yiming and these civil officials.

However, after Ye Yiming faced and answered numerous challenges, many of these officials began to change their initially biased views of him. They now held some admiration for Ye Yiming's intellect.

But there was always an exception. Even though most people present had now begun to view Ye Yiming differently, one person still held severe prejudice against him.

This person was none other than Scholar Zheng, who had been verbally sparring with Ye Yiming from the beginning.

Even now, while most people no longer held any bias against Ye Yiming, Scholar Zheng's gaze remained filled with intense prejudice and anger.

Seeing that the last scholar who had accompanied him no longer held any bias against Ye Yiming and had even praised him, Scholar Zheng was furious. He snorted coldly and said, "Since the young lord's talent is so extraordinary, surely you won't mind if I pose another challenge?"

Damn it! This old bastard is really shameless!

Seeing Scholar Zheng's cold demeanor, Ye Yiming felt uncomfortable. But given that Scholar Zheng had phrased it this way, he had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

"Alright! I accept. Scholar Zheng, please present your couplet."

Hearing this, Scholar Zheng smiled slightly. But instead of immediately presenting his couplet, he said, "This couplet is one I accidentally came across in my early years. Although I've come up with a few responses over the years, I was never satisfied with them. Today, I hope the young lord can provide a satisfactory response."

A satisfactory response for you?

Ye Yiming felt uneasy upon hearing this.

What do you mean by satisfactory? What if you decide to be unsatisfied no matter what I come up with?

Seemingly reading Ye Yiming's thoughts, Scholar Zheng quickly said, "Rest assured, young lord, with so many people here and His Majesty present, if your response is appropriate, I will acknowledge your remarkable talent. This way, no one can accuse you of any wrongdoing. How about that?"

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

How about that? It feels like this old man is treating me as if I'm begging for forgiveness for some crime.

Come on, I haven't committed any crime!

Ye Yiming wanted to shout this out but seeing that everyone, including Lin Wanjun, seemed to agree, he could only nod in agreement.

"Alright! I agree. Now, please present your challenge."

Seeing Ye Yiming agree, Scholar Zheng's face showed a hint of joy. He immediately said, "Good, then I will present the challenge." With a glance at Ye Yiming, he recited:

"弓长张张弓，张弓手张弓射箭，箭箭皆中。" (Bow Zhang draws the bow, archer Zhang draws the bow and shoots arrows, every arrow hits the target.)

As soon as Scholar Zheng confidently presented his couplet, the crowd began to murmur.

"Indeed, Scholar Zheng is truly worthy of his title. This couplet is quite challenging!"

"Yes, drawing the bow and shooting arrows—it's a rare and difficult couplet!"

"Not only rare but very challenging! Now let's see how the young lord responds."

Listening to the crowd's discussions, Scholar Zheng felt a surge of pride.

Hmph, even I couldn't come up with a satisfactory response to this couplet. Let's see how you, Ye Yiming, manage to impress me.

The couplet was indeed difficult. Even the scholar beside Scholar Zheng furrowed his brows in deep thought upon hearing it.

Ye Yiming, too, frowned upon hearing the couplet and didn't immediately respond. His hesitation made Scholar Zheng even more smug.

Even Lin Wanjun, who had been silent for a while, smiled slightly, thinking: Ha, finally stumped, huh? I thought there wasn't a single couplet in the court that you couldn't respond to. Now let's see how you handle this.

Just as this thought crossed Lin Wanjun's mind, Ye Yiming spoke up.

"My response is: ‘木子李李木，李木匠李木雕弓，弓弓难开。’" (Wood Li carves the bow, carpenter Li carves a bow from wood, every bow is hard to draw.)

Boom!

Ye Yiming's voice was soft and indifferent when he recited his response, but to Scholar Zheng, it was like a thunderclap exploding in his ears, leaving him stunned.

He did it! He actually matched the couplet! And it was a perfectly crafted response, almost flawless!

Completely dumbfounded, Scholar Zheng didn't realize that his shock had caused an uproar at the scene.

No one present now viewed Ye Yiming as a mere playboy. No one even questioned whether Ye Yiming possessed a precious literary artifact.

To them, even if Ye Yiming did have such a treasure, being able to respond to so many couplets in such a short time, and now matching Scholar Zheng's challenging couplet almost instantly, proved that Ye Yiming was indeed a remarkably talented scholar!

With this realization, the civil officials' attitudes towards Ye Yiming became even friendlier. Some even thought that Ye Yiming's past frivolous behavior was just youthful indulgence in his talent, nothing serious.

If Ye Yiming knew these officials thought this way, he would probably laugh out loud.

Seeing the officials' reactions, Lin Wanjun gave Ye Yiming a complex look, then smiled.

This boy is truly unpredictable! But now, Scholar Zheng should have nothing more to say, right?

Thinking of Scholar Zheng, Lin Wanjun addressed him, "Scholar Zheng, do you think we can consider this matter settled?"

But the completely stunned Scholar Zheng didn't hear Lin Wanjun's question, let alone respond.

Frowning, Lin Wanjun raised his voice slightly, with a hint of displeasure, "Scholar Zheng!"

This startled the officials present. One of them, standing beside Scholar Zheng, nervously nudged him.

Only then did Scholar Zheng snap out of his daze. He glanced at Ye Yiming before bowing to Lin Wanjun and saying, "Your Majesty, this old minister will follow your decision on this matter."

Seeing Scholar Zheng finally come to his senses, Lin Wanjun nodded and said, "Very well. As for your competition, Ye Yiming, you need not pose another challenge. I declare you the winner."

Turning to Scholar Zheng, Lin Wanjun asked, "Scholar Zheng, do you have any objections?"

Scholar Zheng's face changed, hesitating for a moment, but finally, he nodded and said, "Your Majesty's decision is final. I have no objections. I admit defeat."

Though his tone was filled with reluctance, after Lin Wanjun nodded, Scholar Zheng shot Ye Yiming a look full of defiance.

Seeing Scholar Zheng still so hostile, Ye Yiming felt annoyed. He thought for a moment and then said to Lin Wanjun, "Your Majesty, since it was a competition, we should finish it. I haven't even posed my challenge yet!"

Ye Yiming's words made Lin Wanjun smile wryly.

What is this boy thinking?

At this moment, Scholar Zheng's anger was palpable.

I already admitted defeat, but you, Ye Yiming, continue to insist on this. Are you trying to humiliate me?

Fine, since you are so insistent, let's see what kind of challenge you pose.

With this in mind, Scholar Zheng put on a magnanimous demeanor, bowing to Lin Wanjun, and said, "Your Majesty, since the young lord wishes to continue, please allow him to pose his challenge."

Scholar Zheng didn't seem to consider who had been relentlessly trying to humiliate whom.

Seeing this, Ye Yiming grew even more annoyed with Scholar Zheng.

Damn it! Putting on this magnanimous act now—where was this attitude earlier?