A peck of pearls meant nothing to a wealthy family, but the significance of them being an imperial gift was different. This was not only a massive honor, but it also meant leaving an impression on the Emperor!
Among the scholars, undercurrents of tension immediately began to surge.
Han Baocheng slapped Yang Zhe on the shoulder: "Brother Yang, the rest of us are out of luck. It’s all up to you now."
Beside them, Zhang Liangyu was displeased: "Who says so? I think I can still give it some more thought."
Li Lan remained silent, but was racking his brain to figure out the answer.
Among the five, Yang Zhe was calm, Han Baocheng was cheerful, Wen Feng was upright, Zhang Liangyu was a prankster, and Li Lan was the most competitive.
Unfortunately, there were some things where being competitive was useless; for instance, with this lantern riddle, if you couldn't guess it, you simply couldn't guess it.
Yang Zhe’s gaze, as clear as water, swept through the crowd and landed on a young girl wearing a bean-green jacket and a honey-colored silk skirt.
"Then let me try," he said.
"Go on, go on!" Han Baocheng and Zhang Liangyu laughed as they pushed him forward.
Though Li Lan made no move, his long-knotted brow relaxed.
It was better for his close friend to guess it than for anyone else.
As Yang Zhe stepped forward, a wave of discussion rose from the crowd.
"It's Scholar Yang."
"Is he the Scholar Yang? He's so young and handsome!"
"Didn't you see the Scholar's parade through the streets last year?"
"See what? It was so crowded, I only saw the back of his head."
There were also fellow scholars who felt a pang of jealousy, muttering quietly: "Guessing a lantern riddle isn't like writing an eight-legged essay; what does it have to do with being a top scholar?"
In the spring imperial examinations held once every three years, Yang Zhe had hogged all the limelight. It had been a year already; why wouldn't he give others a chance?
A girl nearby heard this and rolled her eyes: "Then you can go over and guess it yourself."
Just as the man was about to retort, a friend pulled his sleeve: "Stop arguing, or you'll end up getting mobbed by these young ladies."
Were those wide-eyed young ladies really just looking at Yang Zhe's talent? No, it was clearly that face!
The man shut his mouth sullenly.
It wasn't embarrassing to fail a riddle, but being mobbed by a crowd of women would be far too humiliating.
Yang Zhe walked up to the minor official and cupped his hands politely: "I would like to try."
The official recognized him instantly as last year's new top scholar and immediately perked up: "Please, state your answer."
Yang Zhe smiled and said, "One life, one lifetime." (*Yi Sheng Yi Shi*)
His voice was clear and gentle, and his articulation was precise; many young girls couldn't help but squeal upon hearing it.
*One life, one lifetime!*
With a man like Scholar Yang saying those four words so earnestly, how many women could not be moved?
Within the crowd, which had been quietly separated by guards, Princess Yi'an gazed at the young man before the mountain of lanterns, a brilliant light flashing in her beautiful eyes: "Ninghua, is he the new top scholar from last year?"
The spring examinations held every three years were undoubtedly eye-catching. She had to accompany the Empress Dowager on the day of the scholar's parade and couldn't go see it, but she had heard the new scholar's surname was Yang.
"Yes," Qi Qiong replied indifferently.
Having two exceptionally handsome and extraordinary brothers, she found it difficult to get excited about a top scholar. It wasn't that Scholar Yang couldn't compare to her brothers, but rather, no matter how handsome he was, what did it have to do with her? He wasn't her family, after all.
Princess Yi'an pursed her lips, feeling once again that her temperament did not align with Qi Qiong's.
At a time like this, shouldn't Qi Qiong talk more about the scholar, just like the women around them?
"Ninghua, do you think Scholar Yang guessed correctly?"
"I don't know. You'd have to ask the official who saw the answer."
Princess Yi'an: "..." *Do you really need to say that!*
The official's excited shout rang out just in time: "Correct! The answer is 'One life, one lifetime'!"
Many people couldn't grasp it immediately and asked one after another: "Why is it 'one life, one lifetime'?"
The official looked at Yang Zhe: "Scholar Yang, could you please explain it?"
Yang Zhe nodded slightly and began to explain unhurriedly: "The first line is 'Continuous spring rain, the wife sleeps alone.' 'Continuous rain' (*mian mian*) lacks the character for 'sun' (*ri*), and 'the wife sleeps alone' (*qi du su*) lacks the character for 'husband' (*fu*). If you remove 'sun' and 'husband' from the character 'spring' (*chun*), you are left with the character 'one' (*yi*). The second line is 'Awakening at the hour of Xu, the moon just emerges.' 'The hour of Xu' (*yi xu shi*) means it is past the hour of You, and 'the moon just emerges' (*yue fang chu*) also lacks the character for 'sun' (*ri*). If you remove 'You' and 'sun' from the character 'awaken' (*xing*), you are left with the character 'life' (*sheng*). The third line is 'The husband once alone, yet has not returned.' 'Alone' (*yi ren*) has not returned; if you remove 'one' (*yi*) and 'person' (*ren*) from the character 'husband' (*fu*), you are left with the character 'one' (*yi*). The fourth line is 'The butterfly breaks the cocoon, leaving the branch withered.' Breaking the cocoon to become a butterfly means there is no 'insect' (*chong*), and a withered branch means there is no 'wood' (*mu*). If you remove 'insect' and 'wood' from the character 'butterfly' (*die*), you are left with the character 'world/lifetime' (*shi*). Therefore, the answer to this riddle is 'One life, one lifetime'."
That was how riddles worked; you would rack your brain when you didn't know the answer, but once you heard the explanation, you would feel a sudden sense of enlightenment.
"It really is 'one life, one lifetime'! How did I not think of that just now!"
"As expected of the top scholar, his wit is truly sharp."
The young girls, however, were focused on something else.
"Do you think the top scholar will give the glass lantern to someone?"
"It seems the top scholar came with friends; I don't see a female companion."
"Ah, so that means he might give it to a stranger?"
Other lanterns could be given to anyone, but according to unwritten rules, the ninth-floor glass palace lantern could only be given to a young woman.
Just as the scholars had felt the undercurrents of tension when they heard that guessing the riddle would earn a peck of imperial pearls, the young girls suddenly became nervous.
That was a glass palace lantern, and it was being given by the top scholar!
Either of those points alone was enough to make one look forward to it.
The bailiff had already climbed up and taken down the glass palace lantern. The official received it and carefully handed it to Yang Zhe: "Scholar Yang, please hold it carefully. Congratulations."
Normally, while guessing this riddle would be a great way to show off, it wouldn't necessarily warrant a "congratulations," but this time was different. This time, besides winning the glass palace lantern, there was also an imperial reward, and his reputation would reach the Emperor's ears.
For a young man who had just entered officialdom, this was incredibly beneficial.
Scholar Yang's future was limitless!
Liu Chuan also walked over and offered several sincere compliments.
To him, talent or wit didn't matter; the most important thing was not to disappoint the Emperor.
"The Eunuch overpraises me." Yang Zhe held the glass palace lantern, his face showing not a hint of conceit.
"Then this old servant shall go and report."
"Please take care, Eunuch."
The official watched Liu Chuan walk back into the crowd and kindly reminded Yang Zhe: "Scholar Yang, by custom, this glass palace lantern is to be given to a lady—"
The onlookers thought to themselves that the official certainly knew how to handle things; they had been waiting anxiously.
Even Liu Chuan, who was heading back to report, paused and slowed his pace.
He wanted to wait and see who Scholar Yang would give the lantern to; perhaps the Emperor would be interested.
"Is there such a rule?" Yang Zhe instinctively looked toward his friends, only to see countless people nodding.
"I see—" Yang Zhe mused, looking around the circle before stepping in a certain direction.
Zhu Jiayu gave her friend a sharp tug: "I don't know if it's an illusion, but it looks like Scholar Yang is coming our way!"
The moment was very short, yet it felt very long. By the time Yang Zhe stopped, many people had not yet regained their senses.
"Second Miss Lin, I feel this glass lantern suits you very well. Please accept it."
Lin Hao looked at the smiling young man holding the lantern, momentarily stunned.
The riddle had been searched for on Baidu.
(End of Chapter)