Chapter 184: Gambling, Huge Prize

With Xu Chengwei's departure, the atmosphere in the manor suddenly became much more harmonious, and some people even came to greet Ji Chen.

Ji Chen also smiled gently, modestly and politely, and his previous sharpness was completely restrained.

At this moment, he looked like a real scholar.

But it was this modest and polite scholar who almost killed the whole family with his words just now.

Some people were afraid of Ji Chen's sharpness and cruelty and were unwilling to make friends with him.

After all, scholars quarreled and killed the whole family at will.

At this time, a maid came out and put a plate of fruit and delicacies on the table.

The table was divided into two rows, and there was no order of priority, so everyone could sit down at will.

Everyone knew that the banquet was about to begin, so they sat down one after another.

Not long after, Xia Liyun and Zhao Qingcheng came out.

Zhao Qingcheng was dressed in military uniform, heroic and cool, and he was murderous in his movements.

Xia Liyun was dressed like a scholar, wearing brocade clothes and jade belts, and wearing a crown of sheep fat.

Although the two were dressed in men's clothing, they still couldn't hide their breathtaking beauty.

"Uniform temptation!" Ji Chen whispered.

"What is uniform temptation?" Xia Ziran asked curiously.

"It hurts the kidneys, it's better if you don't know." Ji Chen said casually.

After Xia Liyun and Zhao Qingcheng sat down, Zhao Qingcheng took the initiative to speak.

"Sorry to have kept you students waiting for a long time. You are all outstanding people in Beizhou and the pillars of the country in the future. Zhao has always liked to make friends with students from all over the country and discuss poetry and prose together. Today, I have prepared a little wine. I hope you don't mind it."

Everyone hurriedly said: "General, you are too kind. It is our honor to be invited to the banquet today."

Zhao Qingcheng picked up the wine glass on the table, "A toast to everyone."

Everyone also hurriedly raised their glasses and drank it all.

The banquet officially began, the sound of the piano sounded, and there was a musician playing the piano. Confucian students also discussed literature with each other, chanted poems, and drank and tasted food. The atmosphere was harmonious.

Some talked about national affairs, some talked about the recent situation in Beizhou, and some talked about the upcoming war in Beihuang.

Ji Chen also asked Xia Ziran about his identity again, and Xia Ziran said that he was originally the prince of Qi Wang in Qingzhou. Because he was born out of wedlock, he didn't like family fighting, so he came to Beizhou, went to Liangzhou Mansion, and enrolled in Liangzhou Academy.

Ji Chen was shocked, this guy is still a prince.

At this time, someone said: "I heard that Liangzhou has a talented person with the talent of a literary saint. His words have caused shocking phenomena, and his poems are even more amazing. I wonder if this talented person can write a poem on the spot to open our eyes."

The courtyard suddenly became silent.

The person who spoke was a young scholar, sitting with Fang Jingyu and others, obviously from Fang Jingyu's group.

As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes fell on Ji Chen.

This person with the talent of a literary saint naturally refers to Ji Chen.

Xia Ziran whispered beside him, "Those are students from Luocheng Academy. Their Confucian robes have Luocheng Academy embroidery."

Ji Chen nodded, indicating that he understood. Luocheng Academy was basically composed of Fang Jingyu's group. He had lost face before, so he started to fight back.

"Yes, yes! Brother Beigui, you should show it. Write a poem on the spot, so that poor students like us can also see the talent and heritage of the literary saint."

The people around him began to make a noise, asking Ji Chen to write a poem on the spot. In fact, most of them wanted to see Ji Chen make a fool of himself.

It is not easy to write a poem. Even if you write it, you have to think it over and over again, revise it, and pay attention to the level and rhyme.

A poem that has been passed down in the world has been repeatedly scrutinized and revised several times before it was presented.

Once Ji Chen writes a poem on the spot, there will definitely be many loopholes, and what kind of people are there, either the elites of major academies or the direct descendants of the aristocratic families.

They will seize these loopholes, criticize Ji Chen, and pull him down from the altar as a man of literary talent, so as to become famous by stepping on him.

Seeing that everyone was in high spirits, Zhao Qingcheng also became interested.

She looked at Ji Chen and said, "Since everyone is so excited, why don't you just write a poem?"

She liked poetry. As soon as she stepped into Beizhou, she kept hearing about the legend of Ji Beigui. She especially liked the poem "Handing a Sword and Riding a Horse" and the poem "Drinking Alone Under the Moon", but for some reason, she always felt that these two poems were incomplete.

At this time, Fang Jingyu, who had been silent, spoke up.

"Since it is an impromptu poem, why not come up with a topic on the spot, so that no one can use a poem prepared in advance to make up the number, which will not show the talent and background of the literary talent."

He looked at Ji Chen with a smile, and blocked all the back roads with one sentence.

If you ask questions on the spot, no matter how much preparation you have made before, how many poems you have written, or how good the poems are, it will not work.

Because the questions on the spot may not match your poems.

As soon as Fang Jingyu said this, most people agreed with him.

It is more interesting to ask questions on the spot.

Xia Ziran glanced at Ji Chen and asked in a low voice: "Are you sure?"

Ji Chen picked up the wine glass, smiled and nodded, and drank it all.

Lin Yunhai, who was sitting next to him, hurriedly offered wine to Ji Chen. After all, they are now a team.

Seeing Ji Chen nod, Xia Ziran felt confident, so he suggested: "Since it is an impromptu poem, why don't we each write one on the spot to see who can do it faster and better, and then add some bonuses to win good luck, how about it?"

Although he asked in a questioning tone, there was no politeness in his words. Once everyone disagreed, he could naturally reject the proposal to let Ji Chen write a poem on the spot.

"Okay! I just don't know what bonus Brother Wen Zhong wants to add."

Fang Jingyu readily agreed. More than 80% of the people present wanted to step on Ji Chen to become famous. Eight to two, they would win anyway.

After all, impromptu poetry is not about talent, but literary background.

When it comes to literary background, no one at the scene is convinced by anyone else. Everyone has studied scriptures and biographies and various famous books since childhood.

Xia Ziran said: "As for this prize, if it is silver, it is too vulgar. Treasures are too vulgar. Since you are a scholar, then let's use spirit stones. How about one catty of spirit stones per person?"

When he said this, everyone at the scene gasped.

One catty of spirit stones per person, how can you say that? Most people at the scene may not have even seen spirit stones!

Sure enough, even Fang Jingyu frowned. He did have spirit stones and could take out one catty, but not everyone at the scene had them. This prize alone could eliminate more than 80% of the people, which was not good for him.

At this time, Xia Liyun, who had been silent, spoke up.

"The prize of one catty of spirit stones is really too big. How about this! Those who have spirit stones pay one tael of spirit stones, and those who don't have spirit stones pay one hundred taels of silver."

One hundred taels of silver is a drop in the bucket compared to one tael of spirit stones, and it is extremely unfair, but this is the world, and absolute fairness does not exist at all.

"Okay!"

"I agree!"

"Your Highness, this method is even better!"

Xia Liyun's words were unanimously agreed.