The two groups drew closer, each able to hear the other solving lantern riddles.
Their speeds were actually about the same?!
The masked young master glanced at Chen Huaian, who was also wearing a mask, his eyes flashing with surprise and competitiveness.
He scanned the veiled Li Qingran and the delicate-looking Liu Cuie behind Chen Huaian, then looked at the crowd of beautiful concubines by his own side, a competitive smile curling at his lips.
He accelerated his pace, attempting to call out answers even faster.
He was determined to win that pair of golden locks, perfect for winning a smile from his newly acquired concubine.
The two men moved like invisible whirlwinds, solving riddles wherever they passed.
More and more people gathered around to watch the riddle-solving spectacle.
The shopkeeper's smile grew broader and broader.
The golden locks were indeed expensive.
But he could earn back double that amount from these young masters and misses.
Soon, all the lantern riddles hanging on the high platform had been solved.
Only the final prize riddle remained, hanging beneath the pair of golden locks.
And surprisingly, this wasn't a lantern riddle.
But rather a mutual challenge question.
The shopkeeper struck the gong with a "clang" and announced with a beaming smile: "Congratulations to both talented gentlemen! Please each pose a riddle for the other to solve. The first to fail to answer or answer incorrectly loses! The winner takes these golden locks!"
The crowd erupted into even louder cheers. For more chapters visıt novel⟡fire.net
All attention focused on Chen Huaian and that Young Master Chen.
Chen Huaian looked at the young master, his pupils contracting sharply, his eyes filled with astonishment.
But that flash of surprise lasted only a moment before he quickly concealed it.
The young master waved his folding fan, smiling with elegant grace and a touch of arrogance: "You have impressive skills, brother. I am Chen Wenyan. May I ask your esteemed name? Please, you pose the first question." s̈
He wanted to counterattack later, testing Chen Huaian's depth.
Chen Huaian completely ignored his politeness and probing, his voice beneath the mask remaining calm and unfluctuating as he spoke directly: "Unnecessary. You go first."
Chen Wenyan frowned, somewhat displeased.
Wasn't this person rather arrogant and rude?
Had he not heard of Chen Wenyan's reputation?
He was the top scholar in the imperial examinations!
After a moment's thought, he decided to pose a tricky one: "Fine! Listen carefully: 'Seven fairy maidens, one married off'—guess a four-character common saying."
As soon as this riddle was posed, the surrounding crowd buzzed with discussion, everyone finding it strange and tricky.
Li Qingran and Liu Cuie especially exchanged bewildered glances, completely baffled.
Fairy maidens getting married was already absurd enough.
And it had to guess a four-character common saying?
This... how could this be solved?
Yet, Chen Huaian didn't even bat an eye.
Almost the instant Chen Wenyan's words fell, he clearly uttered four words:
"Six spirits lacking master."
The crowd first fell silent, then erupted into even greater laughter and amazement!
An old scholar laughed and explained: "Marvelous! Absolutely marvelous! One of the seven fairy maidens married away, leaving six fairy maidens without their master (husband), right? Exactly 'six spirits lacking master'! Hahaha!"
"Brilliant! His reaction is incredibly fast!"
"Who is this person? Young Master Chen is the top scholar, yet he can match wits with him?"
"Could he be the current imperial son-in-law? The imperial son-in-law was last year's top scholar."
People speculated one after another.
The smile on Chen Wenyan's face instantly froze.
He never expected the other wouldn't even need time to think.
"My turn." Chen Huaian glanced at the thousands of lantern riddles provided by the system and selected one of considerable difficulty. "'Continuous spring rain, wife sleeps alone'—guess one character."
This riddle seemed simple but actually concealed clever tricks.
Chen Wenyan frowned tightly, thinking rapidly:
Continuous spring rain—no sun.
Wife sleeps alone—meaning husband not home.
No sun, no husband, guess one character? Huh?
Fine sweat gradually beaded on his temples, and he forgot to wave his folding fan.
The beautiful concubines around him didn't even dare breathe heavily.
Time passed bit by bit, Chen Wenyan's expression growing increasingly unpleasant. He racked his brains but couldn't accurately decipher that character within the short time.
"I... I..." he stammered, his face flushing red.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper announced loudly: "Time's up! Young Master Chen failed to answer! The winner is this young master in black!"
The crowd burst into enthusiastic applause and cheers.
Chen Wenyan's face burned with shame. Not daring to stay in the crowd any longer, he wiped his sweat and awkwardly squeezed out of the crowd surrounded by his concubines, thoroughly humiliated.
"Might I ask this young master, what is the answer? How is it solved?"
The shopkeeper brought the pair of golden locks before Chen Huaian, smiling as he said: "We have a rule here—the one who poses the riddle must also know the answer. Simply stumping the opponent isn't enough."
"The answer is 'one'."
Chen Huaian gazed in the direction the young master had left, somewhat distracted.
"One?" Not only was the shopkeeper stunned.
The surrounding people also looked completely baffled.
"Might I ask, young master, how is this 'one'... solved?"
Li Qingran and Liu Cuie also watched Chen Huaian with burning gazes.
Liu Cuie simply thought Chen Huaian was amazing.
Li Qingran's eyes were completely filled with her master.
Her master's omniscience and omnipotence had already formed a stereotypical impression in her heart.
But it didn't affect her admiration.
"This riddle is quite simple to solve." Chen Huaian said calmly: "Continuous spring rain means no sun, wife sleeping alone means no husband. No sun, no husband—remove the 'sun' and 'husband' components from the character 'spring', and ultimately only 'one' remains."
As his words fell, everyone quieted for a moment.
The quick-reacting ones slapped their thighs and cheered loudly.
The slower ones scratched their heads and ears, urgently asking their companions.
Only when the shopkeeper had someone use a brush to deconstruct it on rice paper did everyone finally understand.
A riddle could be posed ?
A character could be taken apart ?
"Young master possesses great talent! This pair of golden locks is yours. May they bless you and your beloved to be devoted to each other for life!" The shopkeeper respectfully placed the pair of dragon-phoenix golden locks in Chen Huaian's hand.
Chen Huaian took them and, without even looking, turned and offered them to Li Qingran.
Li Qingran looked at the golden locks before her, then raised her eyes to meet those deep, calm eyes beneath the mask. Her heart felt as if gently bumped by something, and her cheeks beneath the veil grew slightly warm.
She reached out and took the smaller one, her fingertips playfully brushing against Chen Huaian's palm.
"Thank you..." She originally meant to say 'Thank you, Master'. But as the words reached her lips, her heart stirred, and as if bewitched, she whispered two words: "Husband."
After speaking, her body trembled along with her heart. She clutched the golden lock tightly, her face burning with embarrassment. Though the golden lock was an ordinary object, witnessed by so many people as a token of love gave it extraordinary significance.
But she still needed to wait for her master to personally put it on her.
Liu Cuie overheard and beamed with joy, thinking the young lady had finally become enlightened.
This was exactly how it should be!
Full assault, full assault!
Chen Huaian stood frozen in place, almost doubting his hearing.
By the time he regained his senses.
Li Qingran had already grabbed Liu Cuie and fled in panic without choosing her path.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Chen Wenyan, surrounded by his beautiful concubines, ducked into his carriage.
Today had been utterly humiliating.
The esteemed top scholar actually lost in riddle-solving to some random passerby...
Despite being surrounded by soft, fragrant jades and various comforting voices.
This sense of defeat suddenly made his newly acquired concubine seem unappealing.
He listlessly removed his mask.
Suddenly revealing a face identical to Chen Huaian's.