Volume One The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter Fifty-Two A Gift Returned

In that instant, all eyes turned toward that direction, including Chen Chang’an’s. Among them, the Empress Bai Wan’s gaze sparkled with interest.

As Chen Chang’an placed the fourth segment of candied tangerine in his mouth, he carefully observed the scene. The man standing there was much younger than all the other officials in crimson robes present. Chen Chang’an couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Your Highness, who is he?”

Changning, now in an exceptionally good mood toward Chen Chang’an, replied with delight, “His name is Yue Youfang, currently Vice Minister of Rites. He was the third laureate in the imperial examinations a few years ago, so he must have some talent.”

Chen Chang’an said nothing more and quietly ate his tangerine.

Bai Wan lightly waved her sleeve. “Minister Yue, since the envoy from the Yue Clan has come all this way to seek instruction, give him a lesson.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Yue Youfang bowed and stepped out from the ranks, standing before the Yue envoy, Hu Dong, with hands clasped behind his back, chest proudly raised, and voice ringing clearly, “The first line you brought is: ‘Slice the melon for the guests, seven cuts across and eight cuts down!’”

“My matching line is: ‘Mount Taibai’s peaks are perilous—three to the left, two to the right.’”

Everyone knew that Mount Taibai was famed for its clustered peaks—three on the left, two on the right—so as soon as this couplet was uttered, Bai Wan’s brows eased slightly, and the ministers who had been feigning death straightened their backs.

The few military officers present lifted their chins with a sudden sense of pride for their court. Was that all? In Great Min, there were plenty who could answer such a couplet.

Even if they themselves didn’t understand it!

But soon, some scholars realized something was amiss. Hu Dong’s first line was clever because of the way the characters could be deconstructed; Yue Youfang’s response did not match in this regard.

Just as Bai Wan was about to reward Yue Youfang and offer words of encouragement, the Grand Preceptor Hong Cheshu, seated nearby, shook his head vigorously.

She sensed the problem!

At this moment, Hu Dong, the envoy from Yue, concealed his smugness and spoke respectfully, “Esteemed scholars of the Celestial Empire, perhaps you are all still immersed in the joy of the birthday banquet and have not yet noticed.”

“Let me explain: the first half of the couplet must be broken down character by character to derive the second. This lord’s reply does not conform; it needs more consideration.”

He smiled as he spoke, stirring the waters with deadly effect.

Yue Youfang, who had felt so proud, wilted instantly. His face flushed, and he stole a timid glance at the towering Empress Bai Wan, his heart pounding as if it would burst at any moment.

Embarrassment was minor, but damaging the reputation of Great Min, even inadvertently, was a grave matter.

Bai Wan’s dull, fish-belly eyes glared at this former examination laureate, as if she wished she could pinch him to death from afar with her gaze.

Noticing Bai Wan’s subtle expression, Hu Dong was overjoyed inwardly, barely containing his excitement. The couplet had been unearthed months ago when the Yue state was renovating their palace; even their greatest scholars had been stunned by it, unable to come up with a matching second line despite sleepless nights spent in vain attempts.

Thus, the king and certain ministers conceived the idea of bringing the couplet to embarrass Great Min. This was the envoy’s true purpose in coming to Chang’an.

And sure enough, it worked: not a single person in this so-called Celestial Empire could answer.

Hu Dong sighed deliberately, “Your Majesty, it seems that this line left by a master is too exquisite and subtle; even your scholars are unable to solve it.”

His respectful posture and earnest tone were, in truth, a resounding slap in the face to Bai Wan and all her ministers.

Princess Yongle was so agitated she dug her beautiful nails into the table. She had always loved literature and considered herself well-read, but this line—‘slice the melon for the guests, seven cuts across and eight cuts down’—was so ingeniously structured that she was utterly stumped.

Other envoys from foreign states and tribes were variously shocked by the Yue envoy’s boldness or pleased to see Great Min’s court left speechless.

Bang!

At that moment, Chen Chang’an slapped the table and stood up, first looking to Changning. “Tell your mother to prepare paper and brush. I’ll write the second line.”

All eyes turned to him at the sound.

Changning, so used to calling the Empress “Mother,” was stunned by his words, wondering how he dared speak so.

The Empress Bai Wan, already in a foul mood, frowned and demanded, “Changning, what is the matter with your maid?”

Changning hastily composed herself and, at a loss for excuses, said, “It’s… it’s like this. My maid can answer the second half of the couplet.”

What?

A maid… answer the couplet?

At this, regardless of rank or status, everyone looked at the cross-dressed Chen Chang’an with disdain. Never mind that lowborn women had no access to education—if even the Grand Preceptor had failed, how could a mere maid succeed?

If she were truly so capable, would she be a maid at all?

“This is the greatest joke in the world! Ridiculous. A servant girl of ignoble birth attempting so difficult a couplet—she must be dreaming.”

“Humph! Just because the Empress liked her firework display, does she think she can behave with impunity on such an occasion? Even Changning won’t be able to protect her if she’s so reckless!”

Bai Wan turned to her favorite, Zhang Youzhi. “What do you think?”

Zhang Youzhi, clinging to Bai Wan’s sleeve like a delicate woman, replied, “I think it’s improper for a maid to try. But since she’s only a maid, even if she fails, it won’t matter much.”

Bai Wan’s expression softened. Indeed, low status had its benefits—if she failed, it would be expected, and at most she’d be laughed at for being a foolish maid.

She waved her hand. “Bring paper and brush.”

Soon, the little eunuch returned, setting brush, ink, and paper before Chen Chang’an, not forgetting to shoot him a disdainful look.

Heh… You dare look down on me?

Chen Chang’an spread the paper, dipped the brush in ink, and, with a steady hand, wrote boldly: “Frozen rain drips on the window, two dots to the east, three to the west!”

He set down the brush and raised both hands high.

Grand Preceptor Hong Cheshu was the first to take in the words. In that instant, it was as if a current passed between him and the written line, striking his mind and sending him into a momentary trance.

“Excellent! Excellent! What a marvelous line: Frozen rain drips on the window, two dots east, three west!”

His heartfelt praise echoed, tinged with admiration.

The court was amazed. The phrase “Frozen rain drips”—when split, produced exactly two dots east, three west. In terms of literary merit and aesthetic beauty, the second line even surpassed the first.

Was this truly the work of a maid? Unbelievable.

A youthful brilliance, rare among seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girls, shone in Bai Wan’s eyes. She was more elated now than during the fireworks display.

That mute maid of Changning’s had truly matched the couplet, restoring the nation’s dignity!

Princess Yongle breathed a sigh of relief, her bright eyes lingering a moment longer on Chen Chang’an.

Crown Prince Zhao Yankang seemed lost in thought.

The other princes and princesses were filled with jealousy and frustration—first the fireworks, now the couplet. Why did none of their own retainers possess such talent?

“Useless!” Princess Changping, furious, slapped her own maid across the face.

The maid could only cover her face in aggrieved silence.

Bai Wan, exuding imperial majesty, addressed the Yue envoy. “In Great Min, our people are steeped in knowledge and have read ten thousand volumes. Such a couplet can be answered even by a princess’s maid.”

The foreign envoys gazed at her with awe and admiration.

Hu Dong widened his eyes, searching for flaws, but examined “Frozen rain drips on the window, two dots east, three west” over and over without finding one.

But his arsenal was not exhausted. He forced a respectful smile. “As expected of the Celestial Empire. A line our entire nation could not answer, and yet a maid has done so.”

“Your Majesty, on behalf of the King of Yue, I offer you my profound respect. There is, however, another line I would like to ask this maid to try.”

He gave no one a chance to refuse, not even Bai Wan, and immediately turned to Chen Chang’an, saying, “Your previous answer was indeed excellent. Now, here is another: ‘Carry a tin kettle to West Lake; it falls into the lake—alas, the tin kettle! I beg your instruction!’”

The hall was in uproar. The civil ministers whispered angrily among themselves. Grand Preceptor Hong Cheshu spoke out, his voice trembling, “Envoy from Yue, this is too much. It is well known this is a famous ancient unmatched couplet left by Scholar Su a century ago. For a hundred years, none have solved it. Now you present it to trouble a mere maid—is that fair?”

Hu Dong grinned shamelessly. “Oh, Grand Preceptor, you are mistaken. Do scholars not say that learning is without distinction of rank? What harm is there in letting this maid try?”

“You—”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Just as Hong Cheshu was about to protest, Chen Chang’an interrupted with three thumps of his foot, seized the brush, and began to write. Ha! Yet another example from the ‘Fun with Literature’ section at the back of the history books—this Yue envoy was clearly providing an opportunity to show off!

In less than half a minute, he scrawled in bold ink: “Pass through Nanping, buy a blue bottle; the blue bottle leaves Nanping—hard to judge the blue bottle!”

Crash!

A thunderbolt seemed to strike the assembled scholars. They could hardly contain their joy; they wanted to cheer, to leap for joy. For centuries, countless scholars longed to make their mark in literary history with this line, only to fail in the end.

Yet today, at the Empress’s birthday banquet, a mute maid had matched it perfectly before their very eyes.

It was a day of great rejoicing!

This was the delight of the scholars.

The military officers saw things differently: the Yue envoy came to provoke Great Min, but failed. Their sense of national pride swelled.

Bai Wan’s face lit up, her laughter booming. “Ha ha ha! Well done, Changning. I never expected your household to have such a learned and talented maid. Reward her with ten bolts of silk and three hundred taels of gold!”

Changning was stunned. Was Chen Chang’an truly so gifted?

Meanwhile, Chen Chang’an, the focus of all eyes, was brimming with pride. He struck a pose, chest held high—left low, right high—toward Bai Wan, and began to write again.

A moment later, he raised the paper, on which was written: “The envoy from Yue has journeyed far to seek instruction. Now that instruction is complete, as courtesy demands, may I present half a couplet in return!”

Bai Wan read it with delight, growing more and more fond of the mute little maid before her. So, a counterattack! Just as it should be: show Yue their place and ensure they think twice before seeking trouble in the future.

Her joy was heartfelt. She raised her voice, “Very well, Xiao An. It’s clear the people of Yue are diligent and eager to learn, bringing two marvelous couplets across a thousand miles. You may return the courtesy with half a line.”

Chen Chang’an nodded and picked up the brush.

All eyes were wide, attention fixed, curious to witness what “world-shaking” couplet this little maid, who had already solved two famous riddles, would produce.