This Poem, Written for My Fiancée!

Silence!

The entire venue was dead silent, a stillness like death itself.

Everyone was immersed, savoring the brilliance of this poem.

"Excellent! Truly excellent!"

Suddenly, a scholar slammed the table in admiration.

"Clouds wish to become her garments, flowers to become her countenance—like the spring breeze at Aloes Pavilion, caressing dew-laden peonies."

"If not a fairy seen only on the Jade Mountain of the Immortals, then surely a goddess met only beneath the moon at Jasper Terrace."

"This poem is too extraordinary! In all eight hundred years of Great Xia's history, there has never been such a verse praising a beauty!"

"Once this poem is out, it will reign supreme under heaven and be sung for a thousand years!"

"Who would have thought that the unknown Ninth Young Master possessed such poetic talent, putting us all to shame!"

For a moment, the gathered scholars and talents gasped in astonishment.

Though Xiao Ziwen had instructed them to thoroughly embarrass Xiao Yang tonight, Xiao Yang's poetic skill had utterly conquered them—they had no choice but to submit!

"Jiu Lang's poetic talent is the finest in the Four Prefectures of the Northern Territory!"

At that moment, Yan Ruyu also walked toward Xiao Yang, extending her jade-like hand to hold his arm, pressing her proud figure tightly against him.

The seduction in her eyes was nearly overflowing, and her address for Xiao Yang had shifted from "Ninth Young Master" to "Jiu Lang"!

Soft jade and warm fragrance, envied by all.

"Damn it!"

At this, Xiao Ziwen's eyes turned bloodshot, his jealousy burning like an explosion.

He hadn't expected that his painstakingly planned Lanting Poetry Gathering would end up letting his Ninth Brother steal the spotlight.

In the crowd.

"General, this so-called Female Master Teacher is nothing but a shameless vixen! Playing the flute to entertain, throwing herself into his arms—clearly she's trying to seduce Xiao Yang!"

Azure Luan couldn't help but scold.

Beside her, Ning Hongye remained silent.

Though Ning Hongye came from a military noble family, she had read poetry and books since childhood, so she was curious about this Lanting Poetry Gathering. She and Azure Luan had disguised themselves.

Now, the two were dressed as middle-aged men, plain and unremarkable, drawing no attention.

Yet they had witnessed Xiao Yang composing a poem for Yan Ruyu...

She hadn't expected that her own fiancé was a scholar at heart.

But at this moment, for the first time, a strange, indescribable feeling arose in her heart, like the sourness of eating a green plum.

Am I... jealous?

Just then, Yan Ruyu clung tightly to Xiao Yang, her face like a peach blossom, smiling faintly: "Thank you, Jiu Lang, for composing a poem for me!"

It wasn't that she lacked restraint, but she was too excited.

Yan Ruyu's dream was to leave a lasting legacy, to be remembered in history—not just as the first Female Master Teacher, but as the first Female Saint.

But this path was too difficult!

For thousands of years, scholars had been as numerous as stars, yet those who could become Saints and have golden statues cast in the Confucian Temple to receive incense from future generations were few and far between.

But now, a shortcut lay before her.

This timeless masterpiece was composed for her by Xiao Yang, destined to be passed down, so that even a thousand years later, people would remember her beauty.

How could she resist the temptation of eternal fame?

"Miss Yan, you misunderstand. This poem was not written for you!"

Xiao Yang pushed her away and said coldly.

"What?!"

Yan Ruyu was shocked and couldn't help pressing: "Then for whom did you write it?"

"For my fiancée, Ning Hongye!"

Xiao Yang's words stunned everyone.

For a moment, the whole venue erupted.

"Are you joking?"

"That Ning Hongye is a murderous Fiend Star Woman who slaughtered a city and killed her own father. They say she uses enemy heads as wine cups and eats three children in one meal!"

If you can't find the book by searching the title, try searching the author—maybe it just changed names!

"They also say she's disfigured, hideously ugly, and can only wear a mask to cover her face!"

"A woman so unworthy—how could she deserve such an immortal verse? It's an insult to literature itself!"

Numerous scholars and literati were shouting and carrying on, looking utterly pained and aggrieved.

In the distance.

"General, these bastards dare to slander you like this—I'll go smash their mouths right now!"

Azure Luan was indignant and ready to strike.

"No need!"

Ning Hongye stopped him, saying, "There's no point getting angry at a bunch of sour pedants."

Just then, Yan Ruyu asked again, "Jiu Lang, it seems you're quite fond of that fiancée?"

The moment she finished, Xiao Ziwen cut in, "Fairy Yan, you don't know the half of it! Not long ago, Ning Hongye injured her left eye, and Ninth Brother, to curry favor with her, even donated his own Spirit Eye..."

He thought this would make Yan Ruyu see Xiao Yang as a bootlicker and despise him.

But the very next moment, Yan Ruyu gazed at Xiao Yang with tender affection.

"Jiu Lang, I never imagined you were not only brilliant in poetry but also a devoted lover—how moving! I must write a biography for you, recording this story for future generations to admire!"

Hearing this, Xiao Ziwen couldn't help but curse under his breath.

How was this turning out the way he'd expected?

No!

Fairy Yan was so reserved, so pure, like an untainted, lofty flower on a high peak—this couldn't be her true intention!

Ninth Brother must have fed her some kind of love potion!

Today, he had to save Fairy Yan!

"Ninth Brother, how dare you plagiarize my poems!!!"

Suddenly, Xiao Ziwen seemed to lose his mind, his eyes bloodshot as he roared in fury.

What are you doing?

Why shout so loud?

Xiao Yang was startled, then shot back, "Second Brother, have you lost your mind? Making baseless accusations of plagiarism—do you have any proof?"

"That poem was my creation, recorded in the first volume of the Ziwen Poetry Collection. Many scholars here have seen it—am I right?" Xiao Ziwen suddenly asked the crowd.

And intimidated by his status, many could only nod in agreement.

"Second Brother, you're even more shameless than I thought."

Xiao Yang shook his head.

"Jiu Lang, I believe you!"

Yan Ruyu, however, gripped his hand tightly, her eyes shimmering with an indescribable allure.

"Damn it!"

Seeing this, Xiao Ziwen grew even more furious and ground his teeth, saying, "Ninth Brother, if you want to prove your innocence, then compose another poem on the spot—one no worse than the one just now!"

He knew the weight of that timeless masterpiece just recited; an ordinary person producing one such poem could be proud for a lifetime.

To create a second in such a short time was as hard as reaching the heavens!

"Hmph, not just one—ten would be fine!"

Xiao Yang was utterly confident.

A joke?

His mind held the cultural treasures of a past life, enough to crush this world's poetry scene from a higher plane!

"Wait!"

Xiao Ziwen still felt it wasn't safe enough and added, "To prevent you from continuing to plagiarize others' poems, I must set the theme, and you compose on the spot!"

"Fine."

Xiao Yang showed no fear.

"Tonight the moon hangs bright in the sky, so let's take 'the moon' as the theme!" Xiao Ziwen said.

The moon?

Hearing this, Xiao Yang frowned.

Xiao Ziwen thought he was stumped, not realizing that the problem was too many choices—he didn't know which poem to pick!

"Bring wine! Prepare the brush and ink!"

Xiao Yang declared proudly, "Tonight, This Prince will open your eyes!!!"