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

Upstairs, Xiao Mingyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief...

Su Man personally poured Xiao Mingyuan a cup of tea.

"Young Master Xiao, Zhuangyuanlou will keep these two poems. As previously agreed, each poem is worth ten taels, for a total of twenty taels. Also…"

She paused for a moment, then said, "If Young Master Xiao produces any more masterpieces like these in the future, Zhuangyuanlou will welcome you anytime."

Xiao Mingyuan accepted the silver with a smile, "No problem, Miss Su, you're too kind. But I happen to have the third song."

"What?" Su Man suddenly turned around.

"You didn't say anything just now, so I thought you didn't..."

Remembering Xu Qing's teachings, Xiao Mingyuan began to strike a pose.

He then struck a pose like a fat pufferfish gazing into the distance, looking completely at ease.

"Originally, there wasn't one, but when I saw Miss Su looking down at the river, I suddenly had an epiphany."

Seeing that his appetite had been whetted, Xiao Mingyuan leisurely began to speak.

"Having finished washing and dressing, I lean alone against the river-viewing tower."

Thousands of sails are gone, but the slanting light flows slowly over the water.

My heart breaks at the sight of the white duckweed-covered isle.

The moment this poem was published, everyone went wild!

"hiss……"

"One song of homesickness, one of heroism, and now another of gentle tenderness..."

"This, this, this... I don't know what to say. Forgive my bluntness, but in our Great Qian Dynasty, no one has ever been able to compose such poetry in a single day. I am truly impressed..."

"Young Master Xiao is truly able to see things from a woman's perspective and describe her mindset so precisely. Aside from being naturally arrogant, I really can't think of any other way to describe it..."

"Unprecedented, unprecedented..."

After everyone finished praising him, no one asked Xiao Mingyuan again whether he had written the poem.

Just as Xu Qing said...

Write one poem and people hesitate; write two and people question...

But if anyone doubts the poems after they've been presented, then that's questioning their intelligence.

Wouldn't it be better to keep a poem of this caliber for yourself? Why give it to a spoiled brat?

Scholars have always been prone to mutual disdain, so they naturally couldn't believe that someone could write three such brilliant poems and then give them up to someone else...

"Having seen these three poems today, I can die without regret. Farewell!"

The white-bearded old man's expression was complex, a mixture of immense joy and a shattered Dao heart. He shook his head and took his leave.

Seeing this, the others also took their leave.

Originally, I just wanted to watch the excitement, but now that I've witnessed Xiao Mingyuan's ascension to godhood, it's been a worthwhile trip.

After everyone left, Xiao Mingyuan felt a little awkward.

"Ahem, well then I'll take my leave too."

After he finished speaking, he prepared to get up and leave, but Su Man suddenly asked a question...

"Young Master Xiao, I have a personal question, but I'm not sure if I should ask it."

Xu Qing was waiting for Xiao Mingyuan, but seeing this, he tactfully cupped his hands in greeting, "Young Master, I'll go home first."

Xiao Mingyuan waved his hand: "Okay, you go back first."

After that, only Xiao Mingyuan and Su Man remained in the room.

Xiao Mingyuan spoke up: "Miss Su, please speak."

Su Man looked out the window, her tone seemingly casual.

But Xiao Mingyuan always felt that her eyes were observing him.

"You just said that you stood on a boat, looked at the river, and wrote the first poem. But the style of the second poem is completely different from gazing at the river from the riverbank... It's as if you're standing in a higher place, looking down at the world. Young Master Xiao, where did you write this second poem?"

Xiao Mingyuan's heart skipped a beat. Xu Qing hadn't mentioned it, and he hadn't noticed it either...

His mind raced, and he forced a smile that suggested he was calm.

"The second poem... was written in the attic of my house."

Su Man said "oh" without asking any further questions, and smiled as she saw him out the door.

Xiao Mingyuan walked out of the Zhuangyuan Tower, his back covered in sweat.

I found a restaurant, had a cup of tea, and worked up a sweat.

He had just reached the door of a private room when his ears perked up instantly.

All that could be heard from inside was, "Hurry up and make sure Xu Qing's house is ruined!"

Xiao Mingyuan touched his double chin, frowned, and tiptoed into the next private room, leaving the waiter to guard the door.

He pressed his ear tightly against the wall.

Suddenly, sounds came from next door.

The next room.

Food and wine were laid out on the table.

Xu Qing's cousin, Xu Danian, sat opposite Sun Decai, exchanging toasts.

Xu Danian raised his wine glass and said, "Young Master Sun, thank you for thinking of my family."

Sun Decai sneered, "It's not me who's after you, it's the higher-ups who are. They want you to ruin Xu Qing as soon as possible. Can you do it? It's been half a year, and you still haven't succeeded!"

Xu Danian took a swig of wine. "Young Master Sun, you have no idea. I tricked that idiot into indulging in drinking, gambling, and whoring, and he was about to squander the whole family's wealth. But who knew that Xu Qing would suddenly become rich!"

Sun Decai: "Really?"

Xu Danian sneered, "Why would I lie to you? I'm carrying loads of stuff home, at least ten taels!"

Sun Decai's eyes lit up. "Perfect! Let's trick him into gambling again!"

Xu Danian lowered his voice, "Be careful this time. Last time you made him drink too much and he almost drowned."

Sun Decai sneered, "What, scared? Wouldn't it be better for you if he drowned? Just seize his family's clan land."

Xu Danian's face was ashen. "I just... I just wanted his land. I didn't mean to kill him."

Sun Decai slammed his fist on the table: "Now you're scared? You weren't like this when you tricked him into gambling and whoring. Let me tell you, now you have to do it, whether you like it or not! Otherwise, I'll expose your misdeeds to Xu Qing!"

Xu Danian's expression changed again. He clenched his fist, then helplessly relaxed it.

Seeing his expression, Sun Decai snorted coldly.

"Hurry up and destroy his family. If you really want to keep his worthless life, that's not impossible. I'll show you a way."

Upon hearing this, Xu Danian's expression softened slightly. "Young Master Sun, what do you mean?"

Sun Decai leaned closer and lowered his voice, "You can make him sell his fiancée, Song Yao, and that will be considered a done deal."

"What?" Xu Danian exclaimed in surprise, "That...that Song Yao, although she's somewhat pretty, is just a country girl. How could you possibly be interested in her?"

Sun Decai snorted, "What, are you telling me how to do things?"

Xu Danian lowered his head, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

Seeing his expression, Sun Decai began to boast smugly.

"I'm not afraid to tell you, it's Master Chen from the city, a high-ranking official who retired from the capital, who has his eye on Song Yao."

"Master Chen? He's in his seventies or eighties, and he's still thinking about young women?" Chen Danian frowned.

"Ahem..." Sun Decai coughed. "Who the hell said it was Master Chen? He's the one who picked out this for his grandson, Chen Shijin, Young Master Chen!"

Splash...

In the next private room, Xiao Mingyuan suddenly stood up, knocking over a teacup.