I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

Xu Qing nodded almost imperceptibly.

Xiao Mingyuan took a deep breath, suppressed his elation, straightened his back, and tried his best to appear calm and composed.

"Since that's the case, then I'll give it a try. In three days, I'll present it to you with both hands, hoping you'll be kind enough to understand me..."

Without saying a word, Gu Zhiyi pushed the paper over: "It's written in black and white, Zhiyi will never go back on her word."

Xiao Mingyuan took the document, glanced at its contents, and his hands trembled slightly.

He carefully folded the document and tucked it into his pocket.

Gu Zhiyi clapped her hands lightly, and a maid entered from the side door, carrying two mahogany trays. One tray was thinner, and the other was thicker.

"That's another matter."

Gu Zhiyi pointed to the thin stack of paper, "The gambling den cheated, and according to the rules, they return double the amount. Young Master Xu lost twenty-five taels, so it's doubled to fifty taels. This fifty taels is what I paid out of my account."

She then pointed to the thicker stack of taels, "Young Master Xiao bet two hundred and fifty taels, double that to five hundred taels."

Xiao Mingyuan had only stretched out halfway when he caught a glimpse of Xu Qing, who hadn't even glanced at the silver notes, and was leisurely taking a second sip of tea.

His chubby hand made an abrupt turn, picked up the dessert plate, and took a bite of the osmanthus cake: "Hmm, not bad, not bad."

Gu Zhiyi saw this and her smile deepened.

Xu Qing put down his teacup and shook his head: "I won't take this money. The compensation should be sought from Xu Danian, not from Miss Zhiyi. It's a favor that Miss Zhiyi is willing to give it; we can't accept it."

With a mouthful of osmanthus cake, Xiao Mingyuan nodded vaguely, "Yes, yes, we can't have it."

Gu Zhiyi didn't take the silver note back; she just smiled, a smile as gentle as a young woman selling flowers at the entrance of a spring alley.

She bowed and said, "Then I'll leave the matter of this song and lyrics to you, Young Master Xiao."

Xiao Mingyuan immediately stood up and pulled Xu Qing along.

"Let's go, let's go back and think about it!"

Xu Qing was pulled so hard she almost lost her grip on the teacup. She frowned slightly, but still let him pull her up.

He turned back to Gu Zhiyi, cupped his hands in a smile, and said, "Miss Zhiyi, farewell."

Gu Zhiyi bowed slightly and watched the two of them go downstairs.

Once the footsteps faded into the courtyard, she slowly sat down, picked up the teacup Xu Qing had used, glanced at it, and a thoughtful smile appeared on her lips.

Stepping out of the small building, a night breeze blew in his face, and Xiao Mingyuan finally recovered.

He released Xu Qing's arm, rubbed his burning cheeks, and spoke as fast as if he had diarrhea.

"My brother, it's due in three days! Can you write it? I'm sure you can! With your skill level, you could write it with your eyes closed!"

Xu Qing followed him leisurely, her tone unhurried, "Are you really in such a hurry?"

"Of course I was anxious! This is the first time I've ever managed to get anything done properly!"

Xiao Mingyuan turned around and walked backwards, gesturing with his two chubby little hands in front of his chest.

"I used to be hopeless at everything. I was bad at studying, and my dad wouldn't let me touch business. But if I can really take over Chunhong Courtyard this time, I'll dazzle my dad!"

Xu Qing shook his finger: "No, the poems from the academy, and those from the Zhuangyuan Tower, all count."

Xiao Mingyuan: "Let's not talk about that now. Xu Qing, you're my brother, no, my father. Write me a poem. I'll pay a hundred taels!"

Xu Qing shook her head: "No need for that much, just the usual."

Xiao Mingyuan: "Why?"

Xu Qing smiled and said, "You helped me resolve Xu Danian's matter."

Xiao Mingyuan shook his head like a rattle-drum: "One thing at a time. As for the money for the poems, you can name your price. Anyway, we have a long future ahead of us."

Xu Qing nodded: "Okay. Let's go then, I'll write it for you now."

Xiao Mingyuan abruptly stopped, frozen in place: "Now? You already have it?"

"Um."

"When did you think of that? While we were having tea just now?"

"Um."

Xiao Mingyuan's eyes widened, he remained silent for a moment, then let out an uncontrollable exclamation: "Xu Qing, you're like my own father. No, even closer than my own father. Let's go! Let's go quickly!"

The two jogged along to find a waiter at the brothel to ask for pen and ink.

Xiao Mingyuan personally lit the lamp and ground the ink, wiped the table again and again, and finally respectfully handed the brush to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing took the brush, dipped it in ink, and laid out the paper.

After a moment's hesitation, he picked up his pen and began to write.

The Song of the Pipa...

At night, I saw off a guest by the Hengyang River; the maple leaves and reeds rustled in the autumn breeze.

The owner disembarked from the boat, drinking wine without restraint.

Drunken can't be happily farewell, and then the vast river floods.

Suddenly heard the sound of pipa on the water, the host forgot to return.

……

Xu Qing wrote very quickly, her pen never stopping.

Occasionally, there's a pause to recall details from the original text, but more often it's written in one go.

When writing "The large strings clang like a sudden rainstorm, the small strings whisper like private words"...

Xiao Mingyuan watched from the side, holding his breath.

He may not have much formal education, but he can still tell the difference between good and bad.

The sound of these few lines alone is enough to send chills down your spine.

When writing "We are both wanderers in this world, why should we need to have known each other before?"

Xiao Mingyuan couldn't help but gasp, blurting out, "This line...this line is amazing, absolutely incredible..."

Xu Qing ignored him and continued writing.

He only put down his pen and let out a long breath after finishing the last line, "Who wept the most among those present? The Jiangzhou Sima, his blue robe soaked with tears."

The entire poem is quite long and was written in one go.

Xiao Mingyuan stared at the pages full of poems, remaining silent for a long time.

He stared at her for a long time, then looked up, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Xu Qing…

"Honestly, my impression of you used to be, 'You're really talented,' but now, I can't imagine how far you can go."

"Alright, stop flattering me."

Xu Qing pushed the paper, still damp with ink, aside.

After Xiao Mingyuan put it away, he asked, "If she asks me how to interpret it?"

Xu Qing smiled faintly: "Just say it, it's something that can only be understood intuitively and cannot be explained in words."

Xiao Mingyuan patted his double chin: "Great, let her figure it out herself first. When I get back, I'll think about how to show off... ah, how to flaunt it, haha."

Xu Qing smiled, put away the writing brush and ink on the table, and turned to look out the window.

The moonlight was as bright as ever, and the lanterns outside swayed and flickered under the cover of the leaves.

Xu Qing knew it in her heart...

Gu Zhiyi invited them tonight, probably not just for a song lyric.

That woman looks like the girl next door, but she is meticulous in her work and always has a backup plan.

By submitting this piece, "The Song of the Pipa," the Xiao family secured the silk order for Chunhong Courtyard, but at the same time, it bound the two sides even closer together.

But this is a move we must make now.

Because Chen Shijin backed down today, but that man doesn't seem like the type to let things go so easily...