It turned out to be an early-rising peasant woman, with a large water basin hanging on her neck and a hoe dragged behind her. In one hand, she led a young child for early labor in the fields. The two older children were three or four years old, and the youngest had just learned to walk. The three of them walked crookedly along the field ridge. Zhao Kangning's phrase "A sheep leading two lambs" was a mockery of this peasant woman and her children.
Mei Yanqiu chuckled and said, "The young prince is in a good mood, starting his discussion from these humble people."
Lin Wanrong, who had been raised this way in his childhood, found the scene familiar and comforting. Upon hearing Mei's remark, his eyes seemed to blaze. He sighed inwardly, walked over to the peasant woman, and said, "Sister, let me help you carry that."
The peasant woman, frightened by the mockery of the crowd, shook her head repeatedly, "No, sir, spare me." She spoke a few words and hurriedly walked away with her child, the hoe dragging, and the water jug clanging. The two young children, scared, fell to the ground and cried loudly. The peasant woman, terrified, cried uncontrollably, not daring to lift her head.
Zhao Kangning, Mei Yanqiu, and the group of scholars and poets watched this scene, bursting into laughter. Luo Ning frowned slightly, sighing helplessly.
Lin Wanrong gritted his teeth, clenched his fists tightly, his face as dark as charcoal. Guo Wuchang walked over and pulled him, saying, "Lin San, are you okay?"
Lin Wanrong whispered, "I'm fine, young master, I just feel like killing someone."
The young master was taken aback, quickly pulling him away, "Lin San, what nonsense are you talking about? If others hear you, do you want to live?"
This young master was usually a bit timid, but now he showed a deep understanding. Lin Wanrong sighed lightly, choosing not to speak.
Seeing his unusual expression, Luo Ning walked over anxiously and asked, "Brother Lin, are you okay?"
Lin Wanrong replied casually, "I'm fine, Miss Luo, you better go back over there."
On the other side, Mei Yanqiu called, "Ning'er, come over here. I have something to tell you."
Teacher's orders were paramount, and Luo Ning looked worried. She whispered, "Brother Lin, I thought only Mentor would come. I didn't expect the young prince to be here too. I didn't mean to hide it from you."
Lin Wanrong nodded, "I know, it's not your fault. Go quickly." Luo Ning glanced at him and turned away.
Seeing Luo Ning return, Mei Yanqiu grabbed her hand and said with a smile, "Ning'er, can you recognize the couplet from Kangning just now?"
Luo Ning, concerned about Lin Wanrong, had no mood for poetry. She stammered, "Mentor, I can't answer—"
The scholars and ladies who came with her were also pondering, but no one responded. Zhao Kangning, looking at Lin Wanrong, smiled and said, "Lin San, your couplet with Mr. Shen Banshan the other day was quite interesting. Why not try responding to this one too?"
Lin Wanrong replied expressionlessly, "Sorry, I'm not interested."
"Dare you! Who are you to speak to the young prince like this?" Mei Yanqiu, angered, exclaimed.
Lin Wanrong sneered, "Who are you to speak to me like this?"
"You, you—" Mei Yanqiu was so angry that she couldn't continue. Luo Ning anxiously signaled Lin Wanrong, and Zhao Kangning continued, "Mentor, please calm down. This person is Lin San, the servant who defeated Mr. Shen Banshan the other day."
Mei Yanqiu suppressed her anger and said, "A mere servant, what capability does he have? Mr. Shen Banshan is too spineless."
"Yes, Mr. Shen indeed lacks ability, only capable of creating talented couplets. Unlike Teacher Mei, who has prestigious disciples, enjoying great respect. I admire you." Lin Wanrong spoke expressionlessly, and the sarcasm in his words was evident.
Setting aside Mei Yanqiu's actual abilities, judging by the fact that her disciples were either wealthy or noble, today's mockery of the hardworking commoners revealed her questionable character. Those aristocrats who joined her probably just wanted to add a scholarly label to themselves.
Seeing Lin San confront Mei Yanqiu head-on, the onlookers had mixed feelings, with some concerned, some approving, and others just enjoying the show. Luo Ning was caught in the middle, torn between the two sides.
Mei Yanqiu, accustomed to being highly respected in the capital, had never experienced such ridicule. Angry and pale, she said, "I won't argue with someone like you. If you have the ability, respond to Kangning's couplet."
Lin Wanrong smirked, "I'm afraid I, a lowly person, dare to respond, but you, an esteemed person, wouldn't dare to listen."
Zhao Kangning snorted, "Ridiculous! Would Mentor Mei be afraid to listen to a couplet? Lin San, try responding to my 'A sheep leading two lambs.'"
In contempt, Lin Wanrong retorted, "A pair of pigs sharing one trough."
Zhao Kangning and Mei Yanqiu's faces changed drastically. This insult was too direct, especially for Zhao Kangning, being called a pig despite his noble status. Outraged, he said, "How dare you, Lin San! You're insulting the royal family—"
"Young Prince, how did I insult the royal family?" Lin Wanrong coldly questioned.
Zhao Kangning was momentarily speechless. He couldn't say, "You insulted me by calling me a pig," yet the meaning behind Lin San's couplet was clear to everyone. Mei Yanqiu angrily said, "Lin San, don't try to be clever. Today's matter was witnessed by us all. Insulting the young prince, insulting the royal family, is a capital offense."
Lin Wanrong, furious and disdainful, sarcastically said, "Insulting the royal family? What a grand accusation, Teacher Mei, you're quite skilled. Unfortunately, you believe everything you hear. In my opinion, someone is scheming behind this, insulting our founding emperor and the foundation of our nation."
Mei Yanqiu asked, "Lin San, what do you mean?"
Lin Wanrong sneered, "A sheep leading two lambs! What a brilliant saying! That peasant woman works hard, laboring from sunrise to sunset with her own hands to earn a living. How is she inferior to you? If it weren't for being born into a good family, you wouldn't even match
half of her."
Mei Yanqiu stammered, unable to respond, and Luo Ning anxiously looked at Lin Wanrong for help.
"The country relies on agriculture, the state relies on the people. These commoners are the foundation of our Great Hua. What right do you have to disdain and insult them? Mei Da Guoxue, you come from the capital, a prosperous and thriving place. Perhaps your ancestors have been city dwellers for eight generations, but just like our ancestors, they were peasants. Who decided to divide people into city and countryside, noble and lowly?"
Under his anger, Lin Wanrong fiercely kicked a nearby stone, breaking it into two halves. Everyone was intimidated by his momentum, and some felt that despite his rough words, there was some truth in what he said. That day, when Shen Banshan was defeated by him, it seemed justified.
Zhao Kangning sweated profusely. Lin San's sharp tongue and quick thinking made it hard for him to refute. Lin Wanrong continued, "Great Hua's founding emperor, our ancestor, was also a peasant. He personally worked in the fields, proud of 'cultivating from the land and sustaining oneself.' Your contempt for the people insults not only our founding emperor but also our Great Hua. Young Prince, although you hold a noble status, insulting the common people is impressive. Your courage exceeds mine by far."
The crowd, hearing Lin San criticize the young prince so openly, fell into a stunned silence. The story of the founding emperor's rise from a cattle herder to the emperor was known to everyone, and Lin San's words resonated. Even the insulted Mei Yanqiu and Zhao Kangning couldn't deny the truth. Lin San's vulgar language didn't diminish the clarity of his argument.
Zhao Kangning, his face pale, couldn't find words to refute Lin San's accusations. Mei Yanqiu, angry and embarrassed, said, "I won't argue with you. If you have the guts, respond to Kangning's couplet."
Lin Wanrong sighed and turned to Guo Wuchang, "Young master, this is not where we should stay. Let's go back."