It's All Rumors!

[ps: In these chapters, you might occasionally notice some minor inconsistencies in character settings. This is mainly because as I write further, I often go back and revise the draft. Some parts are fixed, while others are overlooked, leading to contradictions. Please point them out if you see them, and I'll make corrections.

Regarding the poem you all complained about, I considered the criticism before writing it, but it was truly fitting for the plot, so I used it. Changing it would create inconsistencies, so I couldn't. However, since everyone is complaining so much, I'll add an extra chapter today to show my sincerity...

One more thing: if any readers decide to drop the book because of this plot point, I understand. It's your freedom as a reader. But for me as an author, there's no regret. Even if I could keep you here this time, you might leave for other reasons later. Those who can't be kept, let them go...

To add, I'm an author with very limited writing ability, as you all know. So, please be a little more tolerant of this mediocre author. Here's an extra chapter as thanks!]

"Interesting, interesting..."

Old Madam Song couldn't stop laughing at the convoluted poem. After she finished, she even gave one of the longevity peaches, gifted by Song Yu, to Li Nuo.

Song Yu's heart bled. These weren't ordinary peaches; he had spent a large sum to buy them from a powerful figure in the Agricultural school. Their value was greater than any other gift tonight. He couldn't even have a bite himself, yet his grandmother gave them to the person he disliked the most. He felt utterly miserable.

At this moment, the way some people in the hall looked at Li Nuo also changed.

If the first poem could have possibly been prepared by Li Xuanjing in advance, then this second one was definitely composed on the spot.

The Yaochi Holy Mother Birthday Painting and the longevity peaches were gifts from the Song family disciples to the Old Madam tonight. Under duress, Li Nuo used these two gifts as inspiration to improvise a poem that pleased the Old Madam and resolved his predicament...

Thinking about it, how many people present could possess such quick wit?

If such a person were a fool, then there would hardly be any normal people in this world.

After presenting the two poems, Li Nuo led Song Jiaren to the side, subtly releasing her hand while also sighing in relief.

He actually didn't want to play along. After all, it was a stale trope used in countless transmigration novels, something that would be ridiculed even in online fiction. But he was truly pushed to the brink.

That damned thief! Why steal their congratulatory gifts among so many valuable items?

And Song Qian, her mouth was truly sharp. Li Nuo suspected she had a grudge against his wife...

Fortunately, this hurdle was passed without any major incident.

Next, the sisters Song Mu'er and Song Ninger jointly performed a congratulatory dance for the Old Madam, which also made her laugh heartily. She bestowed a jade bracelet upon each of them.

Thus, the congratulatory segment concluded.

As the banquet entered its latter half, the guests took their seats and began to enjoy the sumptuous feast.

Old Madam Song's birthday banquet tonight was a great success. Li Nuo's two poems had pushed the atmosphere to its peak. Especially the second one, which not only livened up the mood and delighted the Old Madam, but the poem itself was exquisite, earning rounds of applause.

Several Confucian guests, who were knowledgeable in poetry, highly praised the two poems.

The first poem was already a quatrain worthy of being passed down through generations. The second improvised poem was even more ingenious and amusing. It was peculiar, certainly, but its reach might be even wider than the first.

In the future, when people recall this poem, they would undoubtedly remember the scene of Old Madam Song's birthday banquet tonight.

Old Madam Song would, in a sense, be remembered for eternity.

After all, the titles of these two poems were To My Beloved Wife for Old Madam Song's Birthday, and Old Madam Song was now associated with them.

What was even more surprising was that for these two congratulatory poems, which were destined to be passed down through the ages, Li Nuo didn't even leave his own name but instead left his wife's name, demonstrating his deep affection for her.

People had initially assumed their marriage was a case of a toad eating swan meat, but tonight they realized it was a true match of talent and beauty.

To say the son of the Minister of Justice was a fool...

Clearly, this was a rumor, a complete and utter rumor!

In the hall, Li Nuo and Song Jiaren sat at a long, low table laden with a feast that was a delight to the eyes, nose, and palate. Song Yu, his wife Song Qian, and the sisters Song Mu'er and Song Ninger were at the same table.

Everyone's expression varied.

Song Yu's face showed dejection and helplessness. Song Qian frowned, clearly in a bad mood. Song Mu'er and Song Ninger stared at the longevity peach in front of Li Nuo, swallowing occasionally.

Li Nuo was also greatly tempted by the peach's aroma.

He reached out to break the peach in half, but after much effort, he found it to be very firm. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break it.

Song Jiaren took the peach from his hand. With a crisp cracking sound, she split the peach in half and offered it to him.

Li Nuo took only one half and said, "You eat the other half, my wife."

Song Jiaren shook her head, divided the already halved peach again, and handed it to the Song sisters, who had been swallowing their saliva uncontrollably. The two young girls eagerly took them, then started arguing over who got the bigger or smaller piece, running to a nearby table to seek judgment from their parents.

Once broken, the peach became much easier to divide. Li Nuo easily split his half into two again and handed the other half to Song Jiaren.

Song Jiaren hesitated for a moment before reaching out to accept it.

Li Nuo took a bite of the peach and found it crisp, fragrant, and juicy. In both his lives, he had never eaten such a delicious peach. He finished a quarter of the peach in a few bites, completely oblivious to Song Yu's pained expression across the table.

Meanwhile, Song Jiaren beside him had only taken her first shallow bite.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but after eating a few bites of the peach, Li Nuo felt the dull ache in his shoulder wound lessen. The spot on his head where he had bumped into the pillar also seemed to feel nothing. He reached up to touch his forehead and his expression froze.

The bump on his head from the night before the day before yesterday had actually disappeared...

He pulled open his clothes again, removed the bandage, and found that the wound on his shoulder had already healed by more than half. It seemed that when he ate the longevity peach just now, a warm sensation had spread through his body...

Li Nuo said in surprise, "Can this peach heal wounds?"

Song Yu glanced at him and said irritably, "Of course. This was personally cultivated by a Fourth Realm expert from the Agricultural school. Each one is worth a thousand taels, and they're priceless. You're really lucky..."

Looking at the wound that had already healed significantly, Li Nuo once again witnessed the wonders of this world.

With just a quarter of the peach, his wound was almost healed. If he ate more, wouldn't it heal completely?

Song Jiaren looked at the wound on Li Nuo's shoulder, remained silent for a moment, then handed him the peach she was holding and said, "Here, you eat it..."

Li Nuo didn't stand on ceremony this time. After all, his wound still hurt. He ate the peach in a flash and then stared intently at the wound on his shoulder. Sure enough, after swallowing the peach, it turned into a gentle stream of warmth that flowed towards his wound. Within a few breaths, the remaining wound on his shoulder completely healed, leaving only a faint white mark.

This scene shocked Li Nuo even more than Steward Wu holding him still.

Song Jiaren had wanted to ask Li Nuo to cut off the part she had bitten, but before she could finish speaking, Li Nuo had already eaten the entire peach. Her lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing.

"I'm full!"

Song Qian felt like she had been force-fed affection by the two of them, and the bitterness in her heart intensified. She grabbed her husband's arm and angrily left.

"I'm full too."

After spending thousands of taels on Longevity Peaches, he hadn't even had a bite, and he had to witness the two of them showing off their affection. Song Yu had lost his appetite and followed the two of them away.

In an instant, only Li Nuo and Song Jiaren were left at the table.

Just as Li Nuo was marveling at the wonders of the Agricultural school, a figure walked over. He glanced at Li Nuo, then looked at Song Jiaren and asked, "What happened?"

Song Lian knew that his wife and he had given the old madam a pair of Jade Ruyi, but they had switched to two congratulatory poems at the last minute. There must be a reason for this.

Song Jiaren said nothing, merely lifting the red silk from the wooden tray beside her to reveal two stones underneath.

Song Lian was slightly stunned, then his face flushed with anger. He said sternly, "Who did this!"

Replacing Jiaren's birthday gift with stones, if Li Nuo hadn't improvised with poems on the spot, they would have lost all face in front of the guests, and the old madam's sixtieth birthday would have been marred by a huge flaw. The person's intentions were undeniably malicious.

The servants of the Song family wouldn't dare to do such a thing. His first suspect was his own daughter.

After all, Qian'er had always disliked Jiaren, and she had deliberately made things difficult for them when they were congratulating the old madam earlier... Even though he felt his daughter couldn't possibly do such a thing, she was clearly the most suspicious.

Fortunately, Li Nuo was quick-witted and resolved this crisis in time, allowing the old madam's birthday banquet to conclude successfully.

But if that were the case, wasn't the first poem also improvised by him?

In such a critical situation, he could still come up with two good poems that were highly praised by the Confucian school...

Does this mean he's really not stupid anymore?

Song Lian secretly rejoiced for his niece, then said, "I will definitely get to the bottom of this matter."

After looking at Li Nuo a couple more times, he turned and left.

When only the two of them were left, Song Jiaren looked at Li Nuo and said softly, "Thank you just now."

Li Nuo, who was happily enjoying the lavish meal all by himself, waved his hand upon hearing this and said, "You're too kind, Wife. What's there to thank between family..."

If he hadn't stepped forward just now, it would have been the two of them losing face. Besides, she had saved his life. Let alone composing two poems to save the situation, he wouldn't even frown if she asked him to pledge himself to her