Now I really have to marry the princess.

Chapter 33: A Bet, and Endless Complaints

Yang Zhengdao smiled calmly and spoke slowly.

"A truly talented person can become a forest on their own, needing no fame; a mediocre person, gathered in a crowd like flies, only invites ridicule. In the past, Shi Chong and Jia Mi gathered twenty-four friends, yet they could not match Cao Zhi's seven-step talent. I see those two, dressed in fine clothes, as nothing more than arrogant and power-hungry individuals."

Fang Yi'ai immediately glared angrily, about to make a move, but was stopped by Du He.

Du He's face darkened, a mocking expression on her lips: "If Fang Erlang and I are like Chong and Jia, then is Yang Dalang trying to compare himself to Cao Zijian?"

"Indeed!" Yang Zhengdao replied confidently and as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Cao Zhi was awesome, but I have Li Bai, Du Fu, and Bai Juyi!

Whether you copy one poem or a hundred, it's all the same. As long as you don't get caught out, college students are just going to slack off.

Du He was immediately enraged and sneered repeatedly: "Fine! Fine! Fine! You've even managed to compose a poem in seven steps today! Let us see for ourselves the Cao Zhi of our time!"

"To parrot others' ideas and follow in their footsteps is the work of mediocre people; it's not worth mentioning."

"You! You!" Du He felt like he was about to suffer internal injuries from anger, especially when he saw Yang Zhengdao looking at him and Fang Yi'ai with a faint disdain.

Unlike Du He, Fang Yi'ai was not as shrewd or concerned with details. He felt that Yang Zhengdao was just making excuses and talking big, because he often did the same thing.

Therefore, he was certain that Yang Zhengdao was just pretending, just like him, and that he had to expose the true colors of this remnant of the previous dynasty today.

"Yang Dalang, anyone can talk big! Show me what you're capable of!"

Yang Zhengdao secretly applauded Fang Yi'ai's performance and immediately said, "Why not? I will write a poem and leave the last line for you two to continue. You can also invite your friends and family. Whoever can write a line better than mine will be considered to have lost."

"good!"

Before Du He could answer, Fang Yi'ai quickly agreed.

Du He pondered to himself, then smiled.

He thought of Li Yifu, the talented scholar from Sichuan whom he had met some time ago. Li Yifu was in Pingkangfang tonight. He would send someone to find him later, and the matter would be settled.

Yang Zhengdao was certain that the two would agree.

Because college students not only know how to use reverse psychology, but they also know that the biggest bet between men is: "You win!"

This Xiao Du and Xiao Fang are not Lao Du and Lao Fang; they are still too young.

The stepmother, being shrewd and clever, was overjoyed to see such a romantic affair involving the rivalry between the sons of powerful and wealthy men.

She hurriedly ordered people to prepare writing materials and set up the competition venue in the spacious front hall.

Those who were originally feasting in the attic also came to watch, including many young men from Guanzhong and Shandong.

When Yang Zhengdao compared himself to Cao Zijian, everyone looked on with disdain; quite a few people also rallied to support Du and Fang.

The surrounding maids and musicians turned their heads and whispered among themselves upon hearing the sound.

Amidst the pointing and whispering of the crowd, Yang Zhengdao walked to the center of the hall, clasped his hands in a fist salute to everyone around him, and then smiled at Du He and Fang Yi'ai:

"Thank you all for coming to witness this competition. How about we add a prize to our contest?"

"Of course it's possible!" Fang Yi'ai said confidently, because Du He had just sent someone to find Li Yifu.

"Then let one string of cash be used as the wager for your banquet tonight."

Everyone cheered, and Fang and Du naturally didn't refuse.

Although to these sons of high-ranking officials it was just a mere string of cash, like friends grabbing red envelopes in a group chat, no one cared about those few dollars, but no one disliked it.

Only after everyone quieted down did Yang Zhengdao pick up his brush and dip it in ink.

He wielded his brush and wrote the first sentence on the paper:

The Han emperor, captivated by beauty, longed for a woman who could topple a kingdom, but after ruling the land for many years,

Everyone found this sentence ordinary and focused their attention on the thin gold script written by Yang Zhengdao.

Some people looked strange, some were astonished and amazed, and some regarded it as heresy.

Du He couldn't resist adding a sarcastic remark: "Being unconventional is nothing more than trying to attract attention!"

Yang Zhengdao paused slightly and decided to change one word in the original sentence.

After all, Yang Yuhuan and he shared the same surname, so it was best to be cautious.

He continued writing, penning the second sentence:

The Zhao family has a daughter who has just come of age, but she is kept hidden away in her boudoir and remains unknown to the world.

Among the onlookers, there were naturally many objective commentators: "This story comes from Emperor Cheng of the Later Han Dynasty's favoritism towards the Zhao sisters, and it must be a narrative ballad."

Some well-informed people said, "It is said that the quatrain that was passed down by the second son of the Wang family of Hejian was written by this Yang Wangsun. I didn't expect that he would write a ballad today instead of a quatrain."

Of course, there were also those who made sarcastic remarks: "The prince compares himself to Cao Zhi, so naturally he must compare himself to Yuefu poems."

Without pausing, Yang Zhengdao wrote the remaining sentence and a half in one go.

She was born with natural beauty that could not be hidden, and one day she was chosen to be by the king's side.

A smile that turns heads can be captivating.

Having finished writing this, he gently put down his pen, looked up at Du and Fang, and gestured: "Please."

There was a moment of silence in the crowd, then it exploded with a roar.

These four lines are perfectly fine, but unfortunately, the last line is missing.

Like the tide abruptly ceasing; like a sword drawn mercilessly when the tide is at its peak.

Some people scratched their heads in frustration, some pounded on the railings in regret, and some urged others on urgently, creating a commotion.

Fang Yi'ai leaned closer to the desk, racking his brains, trying to think of something, and after a long while, finally had a flash of inspiration and picked up his pen to write:

The dragon throne swayed, causing waves to rise a thousand feet high.

Everyone was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

Fang Yi'ai felt utterly humiliated and threw the pen to Du He: "Erlang, you come here!"

This put pressure on Du He.

He took the pen and immediately felt a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead. He cursed Fang Yi'ai inwardly as an idiot.

In fact, when he saw Yang Zhengdao write "Born with natural beauty, it is hard to give up", he knew that he was doomed.

How can this be continued?

Not only must it match the phrase "a smile that could launch a thousand ships," but it must also be superior to the previous line.

But Li Yifu has yet to arrive.

Some of the onlookers who had just voiced their support for the two were now urging them on.

To admit defeat at this point is absolutely out of the question.

He could only write down a sentence to buy some time so that Li Yifu could come to relieve the siege.

After hesitating for a moment, Du He gritted his teeth, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote a line:

Night after night, songs were sung in the Jiaofang Palace.

As soon as he finished writing, he heard sounds of disappointment all around him.

Some even shouted, "Young Master Yang, show us your fine verses, lest we be itching with envy!"

This statement was met with widespread approval.

Yang Zhengdao smiled calmly and clasped his hands in greeting to those around him again: "I will certainly not let you all down."

Du He's forehead immediately broke out in large beads of sweat.

Just when he was at his wit's end, Li Yifu arrived.

Du He, as if seeing a savior, hurriedly stepped forward: "Young Master Li, please take a look at the Yuefu poems written by this madman who compares himself to Cao Zhi!"

Li Yifu was only seventeen years old at the time, with a handsome face, and was not yet the powerful minister who would later become a figure of influence.

He came from a humble background, and his purpose in coming to Chang'an was both to study and to make a name for himself.

When he heard about the contest with Yang Zhengdao, he was naturally delighted to come. This would not only allow him to befriend Du and Fang, but also give him the advantage of being able to outdo Yang Zhengdao, who had become famous in Pingkangfang with just one poem.

But when he saw Yang Zhengdao's unique calligraphy, he was taken aback. The calligraphy might be conventional and not yet at the level of perfection, but it could definitely be called the pioneering work of the new book.

When he read Yang Zhengdao's poems again, he became more and more alarmed and cried out in his heart, "These two, Du and Fang, have ruined me!"