The Poetry Tower was a refined place for composing poetry and matching couplets.
It was established by the largest academy in Beichen Kingdom—the Huating Academy.
Scholars from across the land gathered here, along with literati and artists.
They discussed knowledge, shared insights, critiqued essays, wrote poetry, and crafted timeless couplets.
They restored missing musical scores, solved unsolvable chess puzzles, and displayed long-lost painting techniques.
Anything related to the scholarly arts could be found in the Poetry Tower.
It could be said that every scholar of note in Beichen Kingdom had left their mark here.
A saying even circulated among the people: "If you haven’t entered the Poetry Tower, you don’t deserve to call yourself a scholar."
Ye Chutang came here seeking a shortcut to the pinnacle of the scholarly world.
Even if the damned emperor wanted her dead, he’d have to weigh the consequences!
But the Poetry Tower wasn’t easy to enter—one had to pass a test.
The challenge changed daily, set by the Huating Academy.
Ye Chutang looked up at the massive scroll hanging from the fifth floor.
"The heavens as a chessboard, the stars as pieces—who dares to play?"
[Note: A quote from a dialogue between Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Bowen.]
This was the first half of a couplet. To enter, one had to compose a matching second half.
If someone crafted a universally acknowledged masterpiece, the Poetry Tower would display the couplet with their name for a day.
It would then be permanently hung on the third floor.
Ye Chutang wasn’t skilled in composing poetry—her mind was already stuffed with Tang poems, Song lyrics, and Yuan songs, leaving no room for originality.
But she excelled at matching couplets, having dominated online forums in her past life before the apocalypse.
She quickly came up with a response.
Just as she reached for a brush, a familiar mocking voice sounded behind her.
"Lady Ye, the Poetry Tower isn’t a place for those with just a smattering of literary skill."
It was Princess Anping.
Ye Chutang rolled her eyes in exasperation.
The capital was far too small—she couldn’t go anywhere without running into a viper!
She turned around, forcing a polite smile, and curtsied. "Greetings, Princess Anping."
After the courtesy, she straightened and said, "Your Highness is right. Those with mere scraps of learning may not enter, but those with none certainly cannot."
Princess Anping caught the veiled insult about her own lack of literary talent.
She itched to lash out with her whip, but the Poetry Tower had strict rules—no violence, inside or out.
"Lady Ye thinks she can enter the Poetry Tower?"
Today’s couplet was notoriously difficult. Many renowned scholars had already failed.
Ye Chutang glanced at the scroll. "This humble girl is from the countryside, with only modest learning. This couplet… is quite challenging."
The difficulty wasn’t in matching the structure but in capturing the grandeur of the original.
Princess Anping sneered. "To answer this couplet requires vision and wisdom—neither of which you possess, Lady Ye."
At the homecoming banquet, Ye Chutang had humiliated her with poetry. Today, she’d expose her as a fraud.
Ye Chutang only smiled.
"This humble girl is indeed a country bumpkin—no vision, no wisdom, and no grace. Naturally, I cannot compare to Your Highness."
Princess Anping immediately realized her mistake.
This wretch was setting her up!
Sure enough, Ye Chutang continued, "Such a majestic couplet surely demands a response worthy of a royal prodigy like Your Highness."
She had elevated Princess Anping to an impossible height.
A mere answer wouldn’t suffice—only a masterpiece would do for a princess of her stature.
A crowd had gathered, eager to flatter royalty. They quickly joined in.
"Your Highness, peerless in beauty and brilliance, would solve this effortlessly!"
Are you mad? If I could answer it, would I still be standing outside?
"Your Highness, blessed by the stars and graced with imperial wisdom, would surely compose an eternal masterpiece!"
Shut your mouth! Even the top scholar wouldn’t dare claim such a title!
"Your Highness—"
Princess Anping couldn’t take it anymore. "Enough! I have urgent matters to attend to—no time for games."
Ye Chutang stepped sideways, blocking her escape.
"Your Highness has lingered here so long, you must have already composed the perfect answer. This humble girl wouldn’t dare delay you—just recite it aloud, so we may all bask in Your Highness’s brilliance."
The crowd, oblivious to the princess’s darkening expression, eagerly agreed.
Ye Chutang suddenly noticed something amiss.
Her gaze flicked to the street corner—just in time to see Qi Yanzhou disappear.
Trapped, Princess Anping could neither advance nor retreat.
But she had no answer. She fell back on her excuse. "Dare you hinder me from urgent imperial business?"
No one dared oppose her directly. They lowered their heads, avoiding her glare.
She shoved Ye Chutang aside and stormed off.
Ye Chutang brushed off her sleeves and picked up a brush.
"This unworthy girl will attempt the couplet. May I?"
Her voice carried clearly to Princess Anping, now striding away.
She burned to stay and watch Ye Chutang fail but couldn’t without contradicting herself.
Every step away was torture.
The attendant at the desk quickly prepared ink. "We await your wisdom, miss."
Ye Chutang dipped the brush and wrote:
"Mountains and rivers as the board, the people as the stakes—when will the game end?"
[Note: Sourced from online.]
The attendant reverently lifted the still-wet paper. "Please wait a moment, miss."
He turned and slipped it through a small window.
The Tower’s scholars would judge its worth.
One master, upon reading it, was so impressed that he came out personally.
"Lady Ye, your talent is extraordinary. Please, enter."
The gathered scholars craned their necks, desperate to see the answer that had earned such respect.
The master smiled. "The answer will soon be revealed."
His meaning was clear—Ye Chutang’s couplet would be displayed as a masterpiece.
He led her inside.
The Poetry Tower resembled a miniature version of a traditional courtyard building—square, narrowing toward the top.
The first floor was for dining, divided into a main hall and private rooms.
The higher floors were reserved for scholarly pursuits.
The master asked, "Lady Ye, have you come to meet fellow scholars or to dine?"
"Dine first, then converse."
He gestured toward the private rooms. "This way, Lady Ye."
But Ye Chutang had come for fame. She chose the main hall.
"I prefer lively company."
She took an empty table and ordered two dishes with soup.
The master waited, then said, "Your couplet has been selected for display. Later, we’ll ask for your signature."
Ye Chutang sipped her tea. "May I write it myself?"
Her calligraphy was already legendary among scholars. The master agreed at once.
"Of course. Please wait—I’ll fetch the scroll and writing tools."
