The Underdog Romance of the Scholar and the Beauty

Pujiu Temple, once a pure Buddhist sanctuary, instantly transformed into a human purgatory.

Sun Feihu's army surrounded the temple like an iron barrel, encircling without attacking, clearly waiting for those inside to make a choice. This psychological pressure was more tormenting than a direct assault.

Inside the temple, the abbot gathered all monks and visiting pilgrims in the main hall to discuss countermeasures. But faced with five thousand well-armed elite soldiers, what could a group of unarmed clergy and laypeople possibly do?

"Abbot, why don't we fight them to the death!" shouted a fierce warrior monk.

"Amitabha Buddha," the abbot shook his head, his face filled with sorrow, "our Buddha is compassionate, how can we harbor thoughts of killing? Besides, it would be like eggs striking stone—only resulting in needless casualties."

"Then... why not just hand over Miss Cui? We can't let the entire temple perish for the sake of one person, can we?" a timid pilgrim suggested quietly.

"Nonsense!" another pilgrim immediately retorted, "Minister Cui once showed great kindness to this temple. How could we commit such an ungrateful act?"

The main hall erupted into chaos, everyone anxious, no one able to propose a viable solution.

Zhang Sheng stood in the corner, observing coldly. He forced himself to remain calm while his mind raced.

Direct confrontation would be suicidal. Surrender would be utterly humiliating—he absolutely could not watch Yingying be dishonored. The only option was to seek help. But in this remote mountain temple, how could they break through the encirclement to request outside aid?

Just then, Old Lady Cui, supported by Hong Niang and Cui Huanlang, staggered into the hall.

Her face was ashen, but her eyes carried a hint of desperate resolution. She walked to the center of the hall, surveyed everyone present, and using all her strength, said in a trembling voice:

"Everyone! Today my Cui family faces this great calamity, which has implicated all clergy and laity in the temple. I feel immensely guilty!"

As she spoke, she attempted to kneel. The abbot hurried forward to support her.

"Lady Cui, you absolutely must not!"

Old Lady Cui steadied herself, her gaze sweeping across everyone present—from monks to pilgrims, from warrior monks to servants. Finally, her eyes fell on Zhang Sheng in the crowd, but merely glanced over him without lingering.

She took a deep breath, as if making an extremely difficult decision, and announced loudly:

"Today, I, Lady Cui, swear before heaven! No matter which hero, regardless of scholarly or martial background, regardless of noble or humble birth, whoever can devise a brilliant strategy to defeat Sun Feihu's bandit army and preserve my daughter's honor and the lives of everyone in this temple..."

She paused, her voice suddenly rising, each word striking clearly into everyone's heart:

"I will give my daughter Yingying to him as his wife! I will not go back on my word!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in astonishment!

Everyone was stunned.

This was the daughter of a Prime Minister's household! Normally it would be nearly impossible even to catch a glimpse of her, yet now Old Lady Cui had offered such an enticing "bounty"!

In an instant, the look in everyone's eyes changed. The original fear and despair were replaced by hints of greed and restlessness. Several self-proclaimed martial artists began to flex their muscles. Several self-important scholars started stroking their beards in contemplation.

Great rewards bring forth brave men. And this "reward" was an unparalleled beauty who could topple kingdoms!

Yingying's marriage, at this moment, had become a bargaining chip for salvation.

Zhang Sheng stood among the crowd, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He felt angry at Old Lady Cui for treating her daughter like a commodity, but simultaneously, an unprecedented excitement and hope coursed through his body like electricity.

To be betrothed to Yingying!

Wasn't this exactly what he had been dreaming of? Before, the gulf of social status and identity between him and Yingying had seemed insurmountable. But now, Old Lady Cui had personally leveled this divide!

If he could repel these five thousand bandits, he could rightfully marry Yingying!

Fate had given him an enormous opportunity in such a cruel yet tempting manner.

His gaze penetrated through the crowd toward Yingying, who stood behind Old Lady Cui.

Yingying kept her head lowered, her body trembling slightly. She had heard her mother's words—words that pierced her dignity like a knife, placing her in the naked position of an object for sale. She felt humiliated and sorrowful.

But when she raised her head and her gaze met Zhang Sheng's across the room, she saw something entirely different in his eyes.

No greed, no calculation—only determination burning like flames and concern profound beyond measure.

In that moment, she suddenly understood.

For others, her mother's bounty was a transaction. But for him, it was a mission.

Zhang Sheng's heart was completely made up in this moment.

Slowly, he emerged from the crowd.

Under the astonished, questioning, or disdainful gazes of everyone in the hall, he walked to the center and bowed deeply to Old Lady Cui.

"Lady Cui," his voice wasn't loud, but it was extraordinarily steady, carrying a strength that contradicted his scholarly appearance, "though unworthy, I am willing to try."