Hu Xiaotian nodded. "Please give me your line, Princess."
Princess Anping took a few steps forward, her lovely eyes gazing at the full moon in the night sky. "The moon in heaven is full, the month on earth is half; month after month, the full moon meets the half-month."
Without a moment's thought, Hu Xiaotian replied, "Tonight is the year's end, tomorrow the year's beginning; year after year, each year's end meets the next year's beginning." For a couplet enthusiast, this sort of thing was child's play.
Approval shone in Princess Anping's eyes. She offered another line. "One night has five watches; midnight falls halfway through the five."
Hu Xiaotian said, "Autumn has three months, with the eighth at its heart; the Mid-Autumn Festival falls halfway through the eighth."
Princess Anping smiled. "Everyone says you're good at couplets. You certainly live up to your reputation."
Hu Xiaotian asked, "Where did you hear that, Princess?"
Princess Anping smiled enchantingly. "No need to ask. I simply know." A hundred charms bloomed in that smile, and its beauty left Hu Xiaotian momentarily spellbound. He asked softly, "If I may be so bold, Princess, might I ask your name?" He had known Princess Anping for so long, yet he still did not know her name.
Princess Anping said, "If you can answer this couplet, I'll tell you."
Hu Xiaotian bowed deeply. "Please give me your line, Princess! I've washed my ears to listen." Wooing women in ancient times was such a hassle. Movies, flowers, karaoke-none of those tricks were any use. Reciting poems and matching couplets were all the rage. That was what counted as classy, what gave a man real cachet. Fortunately, Hu Xiaotian had studied plenty of this stuff before. An extra field of learning always came in handy eventually.
Princess Anping