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    Lady, escort the emperor! 21

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    Chapter 21: It’s All Rumors!

    June 29, 2024

    Chapter 21: It’s All Rumors!

    [PS: In the following chapters, there might be some inconsistencies in details, mainly minor contradictions in character settings. This is because I often revise my drafts after writing, and some parts are fixed while others are overlooked, leading to inconsistencies. Please point them out if you notice them, and I’ll revise them. Regarding the poem that you all criticized, I did anticipate the criticism before writing it, but it was really suitable for the plot, so I still used it. Replacing it would cause inconsistencies, so I couldn’t help it. However, since you all criticized it so much, I’m adding an extra chapter today to show my sincerity… There’s one more thing I want to say: If any readers drop the book because of this plot, I understand. It’s your freedom as a reader. But as an author, I don’t feel any pity, because even if I can retain you this time, you might leave next time for various reasons. If someone can’t be kept, just let them go… One more thing, I’m actually an author with very limited writing skills, as you all know. So, be a little tolerant of this crappy author! Thank you for the extra chapter!]

    “Interesting, interesting…”

    Old Madam Song was amused by the wildly convoluted poem, laughing uncontrollably. After finishing, she gave Li Nuo one of the longevity peaches Song Yu had presented.

    Song Yu’s heart ached. These weren’t ordinary peaches; he’d bought them at a high price from a powerful farmer, their value exceeding any other gift that night. He hadn’t even gotten a taste, yet his grandmother gave them to the person he disliked most. His heart was filled with distress.

    Meanwhile, the expressions of some people in the hall changed when they looked at Li Nuo.

    If the first poem could possibly have been prepared beforehand by Li Xuanying, the second one was absolutely improvised on the spot.

    The “Yaochi Holy Mother Birthday Celebration Painting” and the longevity peaches were both birthday gifts offered to Old Madam Song by the Song family’s children that evening. Li Nuo, under pressure, used these two items as inspiration to create an impromptu poem on the spot, pleasing Old Madam Song and resolving his predicament…

    Put yourselves in their shoes. How many people present had that kind of quick wit?

    If a person like that was a fool, there wouldn’t be many sane people in the world.

    After presenting the two poems, Li Nuo retreated to the side with Song Jiaren, subtly letting go of her hand, and inwardly letting out a sigh of relief.

    He hadn’t wanted to improvise, after all, those were clichés that had been used countless times in countless time-travel novels. Even in online novels, they would be criticized by countless people, but he had been truly forced into a corner.

    That damn thief, ignoring so many valuable things, chose to steal their gifts.

    And Song Qian, with her sharp tongue, Li Nuo suspected she had a grudge against his wife…

    Thankfully, he had navigated this critical situation.

    Next, Song Mu’er and Song Ning’er sisters performed a birthday dance for Old Madam Song, also earning her laughter and a jade bracelet each.

    Thus, the birthday celebration segment ended.

    The banquet proceeded to its second half; guests took their seats and began to enjoy the sumptuous feast.

    Old Madam Song’s birthday banquet was a resounding success. Li Nuo’s two poems pushed the atmosphere to its peak, especially the second one. It not only livened the atmosphere and pleased Old Madam Song, but the poem itself was exquisite, prompting spontaneous applause.

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

    The first one was already a masterpiece destined for generations; the second impromptu poem was ingenious and interesting. Though a little bizarre, it was likely to become even more widely circulated than the first.

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

    Old Madam Song achieved a kind of immortality.

    After all, the title of the two poems was “Composed with My Wife for Old Madam Song’s Birthday,” inextricably linking Old Madam Song to them.

    Even more surprising, Li Nuo hadn’t even included his own name in these two poems destined for posterity, instead crediting his wife, showcasing his deep affection for her.

    People initially believed their marriage was a case of a frog marrying a swan, but tonight, they realized it was a true match made in heaven.

    The rumors about the Dali Temple Minister’s son being a fool…

    Clearly, it was a rumor, a complete fabrication!

    In the hall, Li Nuo and Song Jiaren sat at a long, low table laden with a delicious meal. Song Yu, Song Qian, and the Song sisters shared the table.

    Their expressions varied.

    Song Yu wore a sullen and helpless expression; Song Qian frowned, clearly unhappy; Song Mu’er and Song Ning’er stared at the longevity peaches in front of Li Nuo, occasionally swallowing their saliva.

    Li Nuo was also tempted by the aroma of the peaches.

    He tried to break a peach in half, but after much effort, he found it incredibly firm, impossible to break, no matter how hard he tried.

    Song Jiaren took the peach from him, and a crisp crack echoed. She handed him one half.

    Li Nuo accepted only half, saying, “My wife should have the other half.”

    Song Jiaren shook her head, dividing her half again and offering it to Song Mu’er and Song Ning’er, whose mouths had watered countless times. The two girls eagerly accepted their shares, then argued over whose piece was bigger, running to their parents for judgment.

    The already broken peach was easier to divide. Li Nuo easily split his half, offering the other half to Song Jiaren.

    Song Jiaren hesitated before taking it.

    Li Nuo took a bite, finding it fragrant, crispy, and juicy. In two lifetimes, he’d never tasted such a delicious peach. He quickly finished a quarter, oblivious to the pained expression on Song Yu’s face.

    Song Jiaren only took a small bite.

    Perhaps it was an illusion, but after a few bites, Li Nuo felt the pain in his injured shoulder subside. The bump on his head from hitting the pillar also seemed to disappear. He touched his forehead, his expression suddenly stunned.

    The bump on his head from two nights ago had vanished…

    He pulled open his clothes and removed the bandage, discovering that his shoulder wound had healed significantly. It felt like a warm sensation had spread through his body when he ate the peach…

    Li Nuo said, surprised, “These peaches… can heal wounds?”

    Song Yu glared at him, grumbling, “Of course! These were personally cultivated by a Fourth Realm master farmer. One peach costs a thousand taels, and they are extremely rare. You got off cheap…”

    Li Nuo once again marveled at the wonders of this world. With just a quarter of a peach, his wound was almost healed. If he ate more, wouldn’t it heal completely?

    Song Jiaren looked at Li Nuo’s shoulder wound, silent for a moment before handing him her peach. “Here…”

    This time, Li Nuo didn’t hesitate. His wound still ached. He quickly ate the peach, his eyes fixed on his shoulder wound. Sure enough, the peach turned into a warm stream flowing to the wound. Within a few breaths, the remaining wound had completely healed, leaving only a faint white mark.

    This was even more shocking than when Steward Wu stopped him.

    Song Jiaren wanted Li Nuo to cut off the piece she had bitten, but before she could speak, he had finished the entire peach. She moved her lips but ultimately said nothing.

    “I’m full!”

    Song Qian, having witnessed their display of affection, felt even more bitter and stormed off with her husband.

    “Me too.”

    Having spent thousands of taels on the peaches without a single bite, and forced to watch a couple’s lovefest, Song Yu had no appetite and left with them.

    Instantly, only Li Nuo and Song Jiaren remained at the table.

    Li Nuo was amazed by the farmer’s skill. A figure approached, glanced at Li Nuo, then looked at Song Jiaren, asking, “What happened?”

    Song Lian knew that the couple had given Old Madam Song a pair of jade ruyi, but they’d been replaced with two poems. Something must have happened.

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

    Song Lian was momentarily stunned, his face darkening with anger. He said in a low voice, “Who did this!”

    Replacing the couple’s gift with stones. If not for Li Nuo’s impromptu poems, they would have lost face before all the guests, and Old Madam Song’s sixtieth birthday would have been marred. The perpetrator’s intentions were clearly malicious.

    No Song family servant would dare do such a thing. His first suspicion fell on his daughter.

    After all, Qian had always disliked Jiaren, and had deliberately made things difficult for them during their birthday presentation… Even if he didn’t think his daughter capable of such a thing, she was clearly the prime suspect.

    Fortunately, Li Nuo was quick-witted and averted a crisis, ensuring a successful birthday banquet for Old Madam Song.

    But if that’s the case, wasn’t the first poem also improvised?

    In such a critical situation, he could still come up with poems highly praised by Confucian scholars, and two of them…

    Could it be that he wasn’t a fool after all?

    Song Lian secretly rejoiced for his niece and then said, “I will investigate this matter thoroughly.”

    He looked at Li Nuo again before turning to leave.

    Only after he was gone did Song Jiaren turn to Li Nuo, softly saying, “Thank you just now.”

    Li Nuo, enjoying the delicious food alone, waved his hand dismissively. “You’re welcome, my wife. We’re family…”

    If he hadn’t stepped up, both of them would have lost face. Besides, she had saved his life, so improvising a couple of poems was nothing. Even if it meant offering himself, he wouldn’t hesitate…

    (End of Chapter)

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