Wait!

"Of course I won't regret it. Please set me a topic, sir!"

Jiang Xiaobai's smile remained unchanged.

As his words fell, the already quiet courtyard of the West Wing grew quieter still.

The young scholar who had repeatedly opposed Jiang Xiaobai, in particular, perked up, anticipation showing between his brows.

Yes, he could hardly wait for Lin Fengshuo to pose an impossibly difficult topic and stump Jiang Xiaobai on the spot.

Gu Zhiyan stroked his beard, his eyes brimming with interest.

As for Xiao Qingxiu, his composed smile still lingered, but a distinct measure of seriousness had crept into the depths of his eyes.

He, too, wanted to see.

Did this Profligate Heir, notorious throughout the Capital, truly possess some ability, or had he merely stumbled into extraordinary luck last night?

Li Zhiwei, by contrast, stood to one side with her clear eyes resting on Jiang Xiaobai. Her gaze flickered, carrying a hint of anticipation that even she had not noticed.

Jiang Xiaobai himself, meanwhile, looked utterly unruffled.

There was even a trace of a smile at the corners of his mouth, without the slightest sign of nerves.

Lin Fengshuo pondered for a moment, then lightly tapped his ebony staff against the ground. "In that case, your topic shall be 'doors.'"

Doors?

As that single word fell, many of those present froze.

Even Gu Zhiyan's eyes flashed with surprise.

The topic seemed simple.

Yet the simpler it was, the harder it was to write about.

That single word could encompass doorways, family standing, paying a visit, the door to one's heart, advancing or retreating, choices and sacrifices-even which doors a person could enter, and which thresholds he could never cross.

Especially given today's circumstances...

Jiang Xiaobai had, after all, forced his way through the door!

In an instant, everyone understood Lin Fengshuo's intention.

He was testing the poetry.

And testing the man!

The young scholar first stared, then his eyes lit up. He almost slapped the table in admiration.

Brilliant!

What a brilliant topic!

If Jiang Xiaobai were merely composing an ordinary poem, he might genuinely stumble upon a spark of inspiration.

But the word "doors" demanded both poetic beauty and deeper meaning, while also fitting the scene before them.

The slightest misstep would leave it shallow.

At this rate, the profligate would surely reveal his true colors today!

Yet what happened next took everyone by surprise.

Upon hearing the topic, Jiang Xiaobai merely raised his brows slightly, and the smile on his face actually deepened.

His expression showed no difficulty. Rather, it looked as though... this was exactly what he had wanted!

Lin Fengshuo took all of this in and said slowly, "What? Do you find this topic easy?"

"I wouldn't call it easy."

Jiang Xiaobai smiled softly, then glanced toward the main gate of the Lin Estate before surveying the people in the courtyard. Only then did he speak, unhurriedly.

"I simply felt, all of a sudden, that you had prepared this topic especially for me, Elder Lin."

"Oh?"

The amusement in Lin Fengshuo's eyes deepened. "Then write. If you write well, I shall take today's incident as proof that you have both courage and talent."

"But if you write poorly..."

Lin Fengshuo paused here and lightly struck the ground with his staff. "Then I fear you will have come through this door today for nothing."

At those words, the atmosphere in the courtyard tightened once more.

Every gaze settled on Jiang Xiaobai.

Yet Jiang Xiaobai did not immediately pick up his brush. Instead, he turned to Li Zhiwei. "Wei'er, grind some ink for me!"

As Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, Zhang Xinnian, who had fallen silent, could not help letting out another sputtering laugh.

Good grief! Since when had his heir become so bold, addressing Miss Li like that in front of so many people?

The people around them also froze, staring at Jiang Xiaobai in disbelief. This fellow's audacity knew no bounds!

Just as everyone expected Li Zhiwei to lose her temper, a trace of embarrassed irritation crossed her brow. Yet she said nothing and simply walked over to the long table to grind the ink.

The sight sent a shock through many hearts.

Wait, this... their Greatest Talented Lady had actually done as he asked?

Watching from the side, Xiao Qingxiu frowned. When he looked at Jiang Xiaobai again, his gaze had grown colder.

A short while later, once Li Zhiwei had finished grinding the ink, Jiang Xiaobai leisurely approached the long table and picked up a brush.

In that instant, even the wind seemed to hush in the courtyard.

Everyone stared at Jiang Xiaobai.

Yes, they wanted to see whether this Profligate Heir, rumored to know nothing but eating, drinking, and making merry, could compose a poem convincing enough to win them over on a topic personally set by Lin Fengshuo.

The next moment.

Jiang Xiaobai's brush touched the paper!

With just a few strokes, the characters began to emerge.

His handwriting could hardly be called the work of a master, but it possessed a sharp vigor of its own.

Before long, he had written an entire poem.

Everyone hurried to look closely.

There, boldly written on the paper, were the words: "Wind and rain before the door ask who will open wide; one foot strides forth from laughter, crossing to the other side. How many lofty, spacious places beneath the heavens lie, yet never grant young talent room to step inside."

As the final word, "talent," took shape, the brush in Jiang Xiaobai's hand came to a steady halt.

At that moment, the entire West Wing courtyard fell utterly silent.

A deathly silence!

For this poem was simply too brilliant!

The first line described a door, the second his forcing his way through it. But the third suddenly turned, making that single door a reflection of countless lofty places throughout the world.

And the final line pierced straight to the heart of it!

It was not that Jiang Xiaobai insisted on forcing his way through doors.

Rather... many doors in this world were never willing to leave a path open for talented young people in the first place!

He was not merely writing about the gate of the Lin Estate, but also the prejudices of family standing and the preconceptions and contempt in the eyes of the world!

Gu Zhiyan's eyes suddenly widened, and he was the first to speak. "Excellent!"

"What a line-'yet never grant young talent room to step inside'!"

"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"

"Indeed, that final line is the stroke that brings the dragon's eyes to life!"

The three elders were all visibly moved.

Even the young scholar who had eagerly awaited Jiang Xiaobai's humiliation now looked as though someone had struck him over the head with a club. He stood rooted to the spot, his face deathly pale.

How could this...

How could it turn out like this again!

Xiao Qingxiu could no longer maintain his earlier composure.

He stared at the poem on the table, and for the first time, genuine darkness surfaced in his eyes.

Clearly, he had not expected Jiang Xiaobai not only to produce a poem, but to write one so beautifully!

As for Li Zhiwei, she stood to one side, gazing blankly at the lines on the paper, her eyes trembling slightly.

Only after a long while did an unusual light slowly emerge in her clear eyes.

This fellow... truly managed to surprise her afresh every time.

At the head of the gathering, Lin Fengshuo fell silent for a moment after reading the poem.

Then a rare smile slowly appeared on his usually solemn, composed face. "What 'young talent,' what 'strides forth from laughter'! You truly dare to write, boy."

"You were the one who set the topic, Elder Lin!"

At that, Jiang Xiaobai immediately laid down his brush and cupped his hands with a smile. "Naturally, I gave it my all."

"Heh!"

Lin Fengshuo chuckled, admiration now impossible to conceal in his eyes. "Very well. You have passed this test."

You have passed this test!

As those words left his mouth, everyone present felt their hearts tremble.

This was no longer simply praise for a good poem.

It was his personal acknowledgment that Jiang Xiaobai had passed his test!

Just then.

Jiang Xiaobai suddenly raised his head and looked at Lin Fengshuo with a beaming smile. "In that case, this student shall now pay his respects to his teacher..."

With that, Jiang Xiaobai prepared to bow in greeting, but at that very moment, an even voice rang out. "Wait..."