Chapter Sixteen Holding Hands

  "Really can win?" Xuxian curiously asked.

  Pan Yu adjusted her hair while looking in the mirror and said, "I don't know, that Cai Feng is indeed extraordinary. Tomorrow's test should be three questions, one person asks one question, and finally draws a lottery for one question. If I ask, she will definitely lose. If she asks, I will also have a hard time dealing with it."

  "You also told Li Si Ming that you would definitely win."

  "He just came for some comfort, I'll just comfort him then."

  "You're really too kind."

  Time flies, and this day the West Lake shore is crowded with people waiting for a result. The real competition among them is invisible. Because the venue is on a painting boat in the middle of the lake, except for a few core figures, it costs an astronomical price to board the boat.

  Xu Xian, the young talent of the Tianxue Academy, could naturally board the ship for free. The three-story high painting boat wasn't as crowded as he had imagined. After all, it wasn't facing ordinary civilians, like in his previous life when they would cram as many people as possible onto a train during Spring Festival, and we could only endure it. Xu Xian calculated that with just this one ship, if it sank, it would be equivalent to wiping out most of the wealthy families in Hangzhou. It would basically have the effect of narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor.

  It's already late in the evening, and the atmosphere in the hall is tense. Under the gaze of thousands of people, only two people are left. The last two rounds just ended, and indeed, they fought to a draw, with each other answering the difficult questions prepared by the other side. Only the final decisive battle remains.

  Draw lots.

  "Please go first, Mr. Pan!" Cai Feng said with a smile, without any tension, her calm and elegant attitude made many people in the scene want to get close to her, not to mention her extraordinary talent and beauty.

  Pan Yu didn't mince words either, and with a casual grab, without even looking, handed it over to the official beside him.

  "The blank contract, Cai Feng Niang sets the questions, Pan Yu Gongzi answers them." The official read out loudly. Everyone couldn't help but let out a sigh, although they all tried to lower their voices, but at the same time, it was still a burst of **.

  Pan Yu still had a calm and smiling expression, without any hint of disappointment.

  Cai Feng smiled slightly and said: "This last question, please let Mr. Pan come up with a poem to match it!" As soon as this was said, many people breathed a sigh of relief and put their minds at ease, being scholars who were skilled in playing with poetry and words, which was their specialty.

  Li Si Ming felt at ease, it seemed that the Red Sleeve Academy was going to let him off after all. However, when he turned his head, he saw that Yin Hong Xiu's eyes had a faint smile in them, and he secretly thought "this is not good".

  Guo saw Cai Feng Man chanting:

  A zither, Xiaotang's June lotus blossoming season, how much tender feelings are revealed. The hibiscus is like a face, whose heart is tied to it, facing the mirror to comb the black silk hair.

  Two willows by the pool, green branches flying wildly, petals of flowers drifting away with the wind. My soul wanders ten thousand miles, who can I rely on? When spring ends, I hear the sound of a flute being blown.

  Three bamboos, a line of white egrets heading south to rest, red clouds spreading across the sky competing with the misty haze. A distant zither sends its melodies afar, adding to old memories, and inspiring new verses.

  Four machines, in the depths of the emerald water, the brocade carp swims, but towards the shore, waves rise. A toss among flowers, also hoping people understand, who can say the heart is foolish.

  Five pieces of brocade, a thousand flowers bloom in the courtyard, people sleep among the flowers. Fallen red petals cover the ground, delicate silk threads are lightly pulled, slender white hands weave.

  Six machines, green peaks and emerald ridges accompany clouds to weave, gorges flow silver into flying waterfalls. Young will and spirit, Zhong Li's appointment, mountains and waters all enter poetry.

  Seven pieces of zither, lightly adorned with crimson makeup, lost in thought. Cloud-weaving hands hold flower hairpins. A floating life, a dream that will never have a ladder to the clouds, but the fragrance remains, and there is still a destined time.

  Eight looms, Mandarin ducks weave the clear stream, their heads together, sharing tears of leftover red. Thin waves layered, once played with flowers, how can they bear to part ways.

  Nine machines, bare hands pick white gauze clothes, and will cry red embroidery inside. Brocade add flowers, winding silk fall day, miss send silk handkerchief.

  He finished reciting and said: "This is indeed the poem, please respond with a matching verse."

  Although the style of words is very popular in this world, it still can't compare to poetry. Many are recited and sung in brothels and tea houses, and often criticized as inferior works. But these nine poems, at first glance, are exquisitely crafted, not ordinary at all. Moreover, they express women's innermost thoughts, how could men possibly match them? Not to mention surpassing them. Yet, the examination tests on the most basic things, even if some are cleverly worded, who can say otherwise?

  Pan Yu was at a loss for a moment, pacing back and forth in the hundred-people hall, where a pin drop could be heard, with only her footsteps echoing, one by one.

  The incense has been lit, and smoke is rising in a curl.

  Unbeknownst to him, the incense had already burned more than half way. Pan Yu did have several countermeasures, but none of them could overcome it. He barely managed to respond, and it was better to admit defeat outright. Losing wasn't a big deal, but losing to a woman didn't sound very good.

  Xu Xian's heart was racing, he made up his mind and retreated a few steps back, seeing that everyone was focused on the competition in the hall, he moved to an empty spot. He took out a paper charm and thought to himself "I'm counting on you". It was the invisibility charm he had made a few days ago.

  Xu Xian slightly moved his mind, and the paper talisman stuck to his body without any glue.

  With a thrill in his heart, it really worked. He quietly bypassed the crowd and walked to Pan Yu's side, cheating under everyone's watchful eyes, even Xu Xian felt extremely stimulated.

  Pan Yu was standing in front of the table, deep in thought, completely unaware of an invisible person approaching. The concealment symbol also had the effect of gathering one's breath. Xu Xian feared being overheard and stuck close to Pan Yu's ear, saying in a weak mosquito-like voice: "Hey, Mingyu."

  Pan Yuxin was startled, but after all, her internal energy was not ordinary, and the voice she heard was extremely familiar, so she stood still with an unchanged expression. However, the hot air from Xu Xian's mouth made her ear hole feel a bit itchy.

  The green phoenix looked somewhat puzzled, as if it had heard some sound.

  Xu Xian originally wanted to recite it for her to hear, but at this moment he could only instruct in a single sentence: "Pick up the pen."

  Pan Yu immediately picked up her pen, and everyone's eyes fell on her. No one noticed the person behind her.

  Xu Xian held her hand, which was just one size smaller than his own, and it fit perfectly in the palm of his hand. It was soft and boneless, white as jade.

  The two of them were extremely close, Xian's hot breath was on her face, their ears and temples touched, but Xian didn't seem to notice, while Pan Yu felt her body go soft, her earlobes already flushed red. And under the gaze of so many people, it was even more embarrassing.

  Xu Xian concentrated and began to write. Pan Yu's martial arts skills were exceptional, and she was extremely sensitive to energy. As soon as Xu Xian's hand moved, she followed suit, not missing a single detail, as if she had written it herself. The style of Xu Xian and the charm of Pan Yu merged into one, seamlessly like heavenly clothes.

  Pan Yu followed Xu Xian's hand, writing slowly. The joy of life was no longer beyond this moment. The outcome of this test had long been put aside, and even she herself had disappeared, as long as she continued to write with his hand, regardless of the result, it would be worth it. Until Xu Xian stopped writing, she suddenly came back to her senses, and saw that the white paper in front of her was already filled with words. The people behind her had long since gone, and she felt a pang of loss in her heart. But immediately composed herself, handed what she had done to Cai Feng in front of her, and said: "Can this poem satisfy you?"

  Cai Feng looked at the result and saw someone else's intention, then read aloud:

  "A lone zither, picking mulberry leaves on the embankment to try out spring clothes. The wind is clear and warm, but I'm too lazy to move, peach blossoms on the branch, orioles chirping, unwilling to let people return." Yín Hóng Xiù listened and put down her heart, this sentence is indeed fresh, but it's a bit too ordinary, if it can't surpass Cǎi Fèng's poem, then it's considered a loss.

  Two horses, pedestrians standing still. Deep in my heart, I couldn't bear to part lightly, turned back with a smile, returned among the flowers, only fearing being known by the flowers.

  Cai Feng glanced at the Wind Liu Gongzi in front of her, and the sparse words brought the woman in the poem vividly before her eyes, shyness and sweetness all entered her heart. This Jade-like young master can be said to be a perfect combination of appearance and inner quality.

  Three looms, Wu Can is old and the swallow's chicks have flown. After the Eastern Wind Banquet at Changzhou Garden, light gauze urges haste, palace maidens want to change into dance attire. Not a stunning beauty, but just an ordinary weaving girl, yet women's thoughts are always the same.

  "Four looms, humming sounds and furrowed brows. The shuttle weaves a lotus flower, the pattern is easy to follow, but my heart is hard to calm, like tangled threads. Li Si-ming's hands clasped together in surprise and delight, this time victory is within reach."

  Five pieces of silk, woven with Shen Lang's poem. In the center, a sentence that no one understands, not speaking of sorrow and worry, not speaking of weariness, only relying on longing to convey thoughts. Although it was written by Pan Yu, when she heard it, she was stunned for a moment. 'The central sentence that no one understands', could he understand this heart and this emotion? Or should she still rely solely on 'longing to convey thoughts'.

  "Six pieces of machinery, each one is a trick. Among the flowers, there are also a pair of butterflies, stopping and hovering for a moment, in the window's shadow, watching alone for a long time." Li Si-ming finally couldn't help but praise: "What a wonderful 'watching alone for a long time'!"

  "With seven looms, the mandarin ducks' brocade is woven with hesitation. I fear that it will be lightly cut and separated into two places, a scene of parting sorrow, how can we reunite again? Eight looms, recognizing the poem's refrain, weaving a piece of desolate intent, reading line after line, sighing silently, unable to bear further thought. Nine looms, double flowers, double leaves, and double branches. Since ancient times, shallow emotions have led to many partings, from start to finish, my heart is entwined, passing through a single thread."

  Cai Feng paused for a moment, then read the remaining three stanzas in one breath. The whole room was silent, Li Si Ming's face was filled with joy, Yin Hong furrowed her brow, but could only sigh. Whether they understood literature or not, everyone in the room was quietly savoring the atmosphere of the poem.