Chapter Four: The Eternal Absolute—King of Kings?

After leaving Zhen Nan Pass, Fang Han and his companions hurried onward, their destination set straight ahead.

Inside the carriage, Lin Qingwei began to scrutinize Fang Han anew, her gaze tinged with complexity.

“Didn't expect you to be so resourceful. Truly impressive!” Lin Qingwei smiled lightly.

Fang Han smiled in return, his tone casual. “It’s nothing.”

Seeing his demeanor, Lin Qingwei rolled her eyes. “Fang Han, can you just be honest with me? Why did you agree to help Lin Qingxue?”

“Have you not seen how chaotic the southern border has become? It’s infested with snakes, insects, and rats, rampant bandits everywhere…” Fang Han looked up at her calmly. “If you’re so worried, maybe leaving now isn’t such a bad choice.”

“You!” Lin Qingwei was momentarily speechless, anger flashing across her face. “Fang Han, your words always make me mad!”

Fang Han replied evenly, “Perhaps to you, the southern border is a quagmire, but to me, it’s a place brimming with opportunity.”

“Opportunity? That’s the biggest joke I’ve ever heard!” Lin Qingwei sneered with disdain. “I’ve heard the people there are displaced, and the southern barbarians are eyeing us hungrily.”

“That wicked woman Lin Qingxue wants to use the chaos in the south to kill us!” Fang Han nodded, amusement creeping into his tone. “I see you’ve seen through Lin Qingxue’s scheme.”

Lin Qingwei glared at him, unwilling to admit defeat. “So you’re saying I’m stupid?”

“I never said that.” Fang Han shrugged, smiling. “But rest assured, though the south is in turmoil, with me there, it won’t be long before things change.”

“I will turn the southern border into a prosperous land where people live in peace, and the southern barbarians bow in submission!”

“Haha!” Lin Qingwei couldn’t help but chuckle at his solemn vow.

Fang Han said nothing more, just smiled faintly.

He understood that no amount of words would convince Lin Qingwei now; only turning his vision into reality could win her over.

...

Late at night, inside the imperial palace.

Lin Qingxue was buried in reviewing memorials, her desk piled high with documents.

The chief eunuch Gao hurried in, bowing respectfully. “Your Majesty, the commander at Zhen Nan Pass, Zeng Tianlai, has sent an urgent memorial from eight hundred miles away.”

Lin Qingxue looked up. “He’s efficient. Bring it here.”

Gao presented the memorial, and Lin Qingxue casually unfolded it. As her eyes scanned the lines, her expression suddenly shifted dramatically.

“What? Fang Han actually moved a massive stone weighing ten thousand jin?” she blurted, astonishment plain on her face.

This was a ten-thousand-jin stone!

It would take ten thousand soldiers quite some time.

Yet just a dozen guards managed to move it?

Lin Qingxue’s fingertips trembled slightly, her face revealing profound shock.

“Quick! Summon Fang Li immediately!”

Soon after.

Fang Li arrived. “Qingxue, what happened?”

“Look at this.” Lin Qingxue tossed him the memorial.

Fang Li took it, quickly scanning, then exclaimed, “A ten-thousand-jin boulder? Fang Han really moved it?”

“There’s something fishy about this!” Lin Qingxue’s face turned ashen. “Immediately have someone investigate Fang Han’s background.”

“Also notify Liu Wanquan in Mingyue City. Make sure he blocks Fang Han’s path!”

Upon hearing this, Fang Li’s eyes lit up. “Isn’t Liu Wanquan known as the unrivaled master of couplets? Let him challenge Fang Han to a couplet contest—there’s no way Fang Han will get past him!”

“Hm? That’s not a bad idea!” Lin Qingxue quickly issued the order.

...

One week later.

Fang Han and his group arrived at Mingyue City.

However, as they prepared to leave the city toward the southern border, they were stopped at the gate.

“To leave Mingyue City, you need a travel permit issued by Lord Governor Liu; otherwise, passage is denied,” the guard said respectfully but firmly.

Hearing this, Lin Qingwei stepped out from the carriage, anger in her voice. “Since when has Mingyue City set up checkpoints? When did the court issue such an order?”

“Apologies, Princess, this is the governor’s decree; we’re merely following orders,” the guard replied without a hint of fluster.

Fang Han raised his eyes, speaking evenly, “This is clearly targeting us again.”

Lin Qingwei frowned, then fixed her gaze on him coldly. “You mean this is all Lin Qingxue’s doing?”

“If not her instruction, do you think Liu Wanquan would risk the wrath of the world by setting such rules?” Fang Han’s eyes darkened, his tone resolute.

Lin Qingwei pondered briefly, a flash of anger in her eyes. “Then what do we do now?”

“What else? Go meet this Lord Governor.”

Fang Han shrugged, a faint cold smile at the corner of his mouth as he turned the caravan toward the governor’s office.

...

Before the governor’s office, a massive crowd had formed a long queue.

Most were waiting to get travel permits.

Fang Han glanced over the line and said to a guard, “Iron Bull, find out what’s going on.”

Iron Bull swiftly moved and soon returned with news.

“My lord, Liu Wanquan said that to get a permit, one must answer his couplet correctly.”

Hearing this, Fang Han narrowed his eyes slightly, murmuring, “Sounds too easy.”

“Not at all!” Lin Qingwei scoffed, displeasure etched between her brows. “Liu Wanquan has been well-versed since childhood, especially skilled with couplets. He’s one of the top talents of the Great Zhou literary circle, hailed as the ‘King of Couplets’!”

Fang Han was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a light laugh. “King of Couplets? Interesting.”

...

Lin Qingwei’s expression darkened further. “First, at Zhen Nan Pass, he blocked our way with a ten-thousand-jin boulder. Now Liu Wanquan uses his couplets to make things difficult for us. That Lin Qingxue woman…”

Before she finished, Fang Han suddenly acted swiftly, covering her mouth and whispering, “Princess, beware of what you say. Trouble often comes from the mouth. Best to be cautious here in public.”

Lin Qingwei, caught off guard, felt both embarrassed and annoyed.

Seeing her fall silent, Fang Han withdrew his hand. “Princess, it’s just a couplet, not some insurmountable challenge.”

“Since Liu Wanquan wants to play this game, we’ll see it through.”

Lin Qingwei shot him a sharp glare but said no more.

They stepped down from the carriage, spotting Liu Wanquan standing on the steps ahead, casually twirling a folding fan, his gaze indifferent.

“Lord Liu, we are here on imperial orders to go to the southern border. Why set up a checkpoint to obstruct us?” Lin Qingwei demanded, her voice cold.

Liu Wanquan smiled leisurely. “Princess, rules are rules.”

“To get a permit, you simply need to respond correctly to my couplet. No need to be angry.”

“Very well, I’d like to see just how clever this so-called King of Couplets really is,” Fang Han said calmly, cutting off the anger Lin Qingwei was about to voice.

He folded his hands behind his back and strode forward to face Liu Wanquan directly.

Liu Wanquan narrowed his eyes, lightly flicking his fan, then smiled. “If you answer my couplet correctly, I won’t just give you the permit; I’ll also provide a hundred elite guards to accompany you.”

“If you lose, you must remain here in Mingyue City!”

“Speak. What’s the first line?” Fang Han’s voice was steady, showing no sign of panic.

Liu Wanquan fanned himself gently, a hint of meaning in his eyes. “Very well! Listen carefully. My first line is—‘Lonely cold window guards the widow in vain’.”

At those words, the crowd erupted.

“Liu’s masterpiece from ages past?”

“Since its creation, no one has ever matched this line. This young man is sure to lose!”

Whispers spread through the crowd, even Lin Qingwei’s face darkened.

She had naturally heard of this timeless couplet, one that countless scholars had tried to solve but none succeeded.

“Lord Liu, this is too much!” Lin Qingwei said coldly, displeasure clear in her tone. “This is deliberate troublemaking!”

“Princess, this is a fair contest. I never said you couldn’t use a timeless couplet,” Liu Wanquan shrugged innocently, though his eyes were full of mockery.

Lin Qingwei gritted her teeth but had no retort.

“Lord Fang, I’ll give you one hour. If you can’t answer, please leave,” Liu Wanquan said coolly, brimming with confidence.

The crowd’s laughter and jeers grew louder. “One hour? Even a lifetime wouldn’t be enough!”

Fang Han shook his sleeve, laughing out loud. “Such a trivial line as ‘Lonely cold window guards the widow in vain,’ and you dare claim none can answer? Today, I’ll show you what a true King of Couplets is!”

Then.

Fang Han’s eyes sharpened, his aura surging like a storm, his voice strong and resonant:

“My reply—‘Lone lamp, night rain, thinking of the virtuous alone.’”