All the scholars widened their mouths and eyes. Nobody dared to believe the scene in front of them.
Did he not want to live anymore?
He actually dared to provoke Meng Yushu? Not only did he provoke Meng Yushu, he even took away the fruits in front of Yan Xiu? What a killing two birds with one stone, killing two birds with one stone!
Most importantly, the youth looked as if nothing had happened, sitting there and enjoying his food.
Isn't he too arrogant?
Meng Yushu's face was very black. When he saw the youth sitting beside Yan Xiu, his face was so black that it could even drip water.
That blue coarse robe, the coarse cloth on his head, and the boots on his feet, which were almost worn out to the point of turning white, all showed that he was a country bumpkin.
A country bumpkin actually dared to make him land butt first in front of everyone in his territory?
This was simply intolerable!
Just as he was about to go berserk, he heard a soft chant.
"Act according to etiquette, act according to etiquette …"
Meng Yushu was taken aback. Then, he realised that this voice came from Yan Xiu, who was sitting beside the youth. At this moment, Yan Xiu's face was as cold as ice, his lips opening and closing continuously.
He was chanting the phrase 'act according to etiquette'.
"Act according to etiquette?" Meng Yushu's brows furrowed tightly. His hand, which was holding onto the sword at his waist, turned slightly white. What did Yan Xiu's words mean? Did he want him to act according to etiquette?
But now that his head was already being stepped on, he still had to act according to etiquette?
Suddenly, Meng Yushu thought of the highlight of today's Hundred Flower Gathering. His eyes suddenly lit up, as if he understood something. So this was what he meant …
Thinking of this, Meng Yushu stood up from the ground, lightly patted the dirt on his butt, then bowed slightly towards Yan Xiu and the youth.
"I am Meng Yushu, may I know young master's name?"
These words were naturally directed at the youth. But, in the eyes of the surrounding scholars …
Instantly, all the scholars were dumbfounded.
What was going on? He actually didn't draw his sword? He could even tolerate this? Furthermore, he even asked for the other party's name? When did Meng Yushu have such a good temper?
Completely in disbelief.
The youth was nibbling on a fruit. When he heard Meng Yushu's question, he waved his hands and said with disdain, "If there's nothing else, you can leave. I'm still waiting to watch the performance."
"…"
The surrounding candidates felt as though their mouths had been stuffed with eggs. They were completely speechless. Who was this guy in a coarse robe? When Meng Yushu asked him to leave, he didn't even bother to reply?
This kind of bearing really … made people speechless.
Meng Yushu was equally shocked. He carefully looked at the youth in front of him and thought for a while. There didn't seem to be such a person in Huai An County?
Just as he was about to flare up, he heard Yan Xiu mutter.
"Act according to etiquette, act according to etiquette …"
Meng Yushu's expression changed again and again, his chest rising and falling rapidly. After enduring for a full fifteen minutes, he finally suppressed the rising anger in his heart.
"Since Young Master has come to the Hundred Flower Gathering, you should know that the highlight of the Hundred Flower Gathering is the word 'Flower'. Why don't we have a battle using this word today?" Meng Yushu tried his best to keep his voice calm, but he couldn't help but grit his teeth.
"Duel? Hmm … tell me about it! "There seemed to be some interest on the youth's face.
"Let's compete to see who can remove the Courtesan Belle's veil first, how about that?" Meng Yushu pouted towards the stage behind him and said provocatively.
"Courtesan? There's a Courtesan Belle today? "The youth's expression seemed to be slightly shocked.
When Meng Yushu saw this, he instantly laughed coldly in his heart. He was indeed a country bumpkin, he didn't even know the theme of the Hundred Flower Gathering, 'Courtesan Belle'?
Wouldn't it be beneath his status to duel with such a person?
However, since Yan Xiu kept on talking about acting according to etiquette, then if he did things according to the Hundred Flower Gathering's rules, Yan Xiu probably wouldn't have any objections?
"How about it, Young Master, do you dare?"
"So whoever removes the Courtesan Belle's veil first wins?" The youth continued to ask.
"Of course!" Meng Yushu nodded his head.
Even though the Hundred Flower Gathering was a competition for the Courtesan Belle, it was mainly a battle of words. In order to remove the Courtesan Belle's veil, one had to display sufficient literary talent and win the Courtesan Belle's heart in front of everyone. Only then would it be possible for the Courtesan Belle to remove her veil.
Meng Yushu didn't think that this country bumpkin in front of him had any literary talent.
Taking ten thousand steps back, even if this country bumpkin really had some outstanding works, just by dressing like this, he wouldn't be able to win the Courtesan Belle's heart.
Hence, the outcome of this duel, from the moment the duel was set, had already been decided.
"Alright!" The youth didn't seem to have any doubts, and nodded his head straightforwardly.
Meng Yushu was instantly elated. This country bumpkin really had guts, he actually dared to duel with him? This couldn't be blamed on him.
"Since we've set a duel, it's best if there's a wager!" Meng Yushu guided patiently.
"Hmm, you're right!" The youth nodded his head once again, not feeling that there was any problem at all.
Meng Yushu felt that this was enough. Looking at the youth in front of him, his hands touched his chest, but ultimately, he still hesitated.
If he bet too much, it wouldn't be good for this guy to get cold feet.
"How about we bet a hundred silvers?" Meng Yushu probed.
"Alright!" Hearing this, the youth instantly smiled.
"Then let's invite young master Yan Xiu to be our witness. Both of us will bet a hundred silvers each, and we'll bet on who can remove the Courtesan Belle's veil!" After speaking, Meng Yushu fished out a hundred silvers note from his chest, and passed it to Yan Xiu.
Yan Xiu took a look, and his expression instantly became colder. His mouth continuously muttered, "Act according to etiquette, act according to etiquette …"
On the other hand, the youth excitedly picked up the silver note and looked at it again and again.
"Then will young master please put down the silver note?" Seeing that the youth only looked at it, and didn't do anything, Meng Yushu couldn't help but be a little suspicious.
"Silver note? Oh … this is not important, don't worry, it's not like I'll lose! "Hearing this, the youth waved his hands at Meng Yushu, with a nonchalant expression on his face.
Meng Yushu's face instantly darkened.
What did he mean? Not putting down the silver note for a duel? Trying to cheat!
Just as he was about to open his mouth to question him, he looked at Yan Xiu in front of him. Meng Yushu swallowed his words. He completely believed that since Yan Xiu agreed to be a witness, this guy wouldn't cheat.
Furthermore, in this Huai An County, there really wasn't anyone who dared to cheat against him, Meng Yushu.
"Hmph!" Meng Yushu snorted coldly. Since the duel had already been decided, he had no interest in getting entangled with the youth. Bringing his guards along, he sat alone far away.
"Meng Yushu actually bet with that guy on who can remove the Courtesan Belle's veil first?"
"This is interesting, did Meng Yushu not notice the name list of the Courtesan Belle competition today, and doesn't know who the Courtesan Belle is?"
When the scholars heard the conversation between Meng Yushu and the youth, they instantly started discussing amongst themselves.
And at this moment, on the River of Trust, a huge three-floored pleasure boat, decorated with golden silk satin, slowly sailed over. On top of the pleasure boat, a small golden flag with the word "Yun" printed on it fluttered in the wind.
The surface of the water rippled as this pleasure boat passed through a bunch of pleasure boats. However, no one would compare this pleasure boat to other pleasure boats.
Because, the owner of this pleasure boat represented a true mountain, a mountain that simply couldn't be climbed.
"She … why would she come to Huai An County?" The originally confident Meng Yushu's expression changed drastically when he saw the boat, and his expression turned extremely ugly.
He also knew who this pleasure boat represented.
Yun Qingwu, an extraordinary lady who caused countless scholars in the Great Xia Dynasty to bow down to her. She was proficient in the guqin, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, lyrics, songs, and prose. Most importantly, no one had ever removed Yun Qingwu's veil.
Furthermore, no one had ever boarded Yun Qingwu's pleasure boat!
Of course, this person … was referring to men!
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